Synthetic Biology Research Associate - Burnaby, Canada - Tersa Earth

Description

Company Profile
Tersa is developing novel biotechnologies for remediation of mining waste.

We aspire to drive the mining industry to a new era of profitability and sustainability by providing improved solutions in the area of mining tailings management and providing unmatched solutions for decarbonization.

Job Summary

The Synthetic Biology Research Associate will assist in improving metal deposition and calcite precipitation efficiency in specialized bacteria through various synthetic biology techniques.

The Research Associate will work as part of a diverse team of engineers, chemists and biologists and will report directly to the Synthetic Biologist.

Key Responsibilities

• Performing cloning experiments by PCR amplifying relevant genes and gene clusters, using advanced DNA manipulation techniques, such as Gibson Assembly and CRISPR, preparing DNA samples for sequencing and analyzing sequencing data
• Making and maintaining bacterial cultures as liquid cultures, petri dishes and glycerol stocks
• Developing and running assays to screen activity of strains.
• Analyzing samples for bacterial contamination by:
• Detection of strain specific genes by PCR
• Amplification of the 16S rRNA region for sequencing
• Troubleshooting experiments and projects independently and as part of a team
• Describing experimental results and procedures in a centralized electronic lab notebook.
• Analyzing, writing, reporting, and presenting results from experimental data, literature reviews, reports etc.
• Cross-

Team Collaboration:

Collaborate closely with internal teams to ensure the successful completion of projects, offering support to engineering, research and development, business development, and operations teams as needed.

• Technical Documentation: Create detailed reports, presentations, and technical documents, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and lab notebook entries, to document and communicate research processes and findings.
• Equipment and

Lab Maintenance:
Set up, calibrate, and perform routine maintenance on specialized laboratory equipment to ensure its accurate and consistent operation.

• Other Assigned Duties: Fulfill other related duties as required by the research or laboratory environment, ensuring the smooth progression of experiments and projects.

Education/Professional Qualifications
A post-secondary or graduate degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or another related discipline; BSc with 2-4 years relevant work experience or MSc with 0-2 years relevant work experience including:

• Experience with the following basic molecular biology skills: PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digests, minipreps, bacterial transformation
• Additional experience with the following is an asset: SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, qPCR, RNA extraction, CRISPR, Gibson Assembly, Lambda-Red recombineering.

A combination of education, experience, skills and & abilities may be considered.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Skilled in using aseptic techniques with a Bunsen burner and biosafety cabinet.
• Proficient with basic molecular biology skills: PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digests, minipreps, bacterial transformation.
• Knowledge or experience with the following is an asset: SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, qPCR, RNA extraction, CRISPR, Gibson Assembly, Lambda-Red recombineering.
• Experience with an electronic lab notebook program and molecular biology design software is an asset (e.g. Benchling, Snapgene, etc.).
• Ability to synthesize complex information towards solutionfocused and creative problem solving.
• Possesses a positive and adaptable attitude within a fastpaced and collaborative work environment.
• Proven ability to take initiative, work independently and demonstrate proficient time management and organizational skills to meet deadlines without compromising on quality.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral), with the ability to produce technical documents and presentations to communicate concepts and results clearly to an interdisciplinary audience.

Salary:
$55,000.00 per year


Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Onsite parking
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (required)

Work Location:
In person