Scientist II

Harvard Medical School

Boston, MA

Job posting number: #7111022

Posted: September 19, 2022

Job Description

Scientist II
Harvard Medical School

59931BR

Job Summary

The Wyss Institute is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Scientist with significant expertise in microbiology, genetics, and food/agriculture sustainability applications thereof to help create and be part of a dynamic team dedicated to new applications of synthetic biology toward sustainability and Climate Change, through both an academic and entrepreneurial lens.


About Us:

The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is not a typical research organization as our goal is near-term impact. Our mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds, and getting our innovations out of the lab and into the real world, fast. At the Wyss Institute, faculty from premier academic and clinical institutions collaborate with staff scientists and engineers, postdocs, graduate students, industry experts, business development leaders, and entrepreneurs across disciplines to produce new technologies that don’t just succeed at making it to the market – they disrupt it. We support research that universities, companies, and VC firms don’t fund because they claim it’s too risky. We prefer to use the word “challenging,” and we love challenges. For more information, visit: http://wyss.harvard.edu/

About You:

You are a collaborative, impact-focused, team-building problem solver who wants to help crystallize our efforts toward creating and commercializing novel approaches to global challenges in sustainability. You want the freedom to explore, to push the boundaries of what is possible, to use your ambition to tackle challenging projects in a fast-paced, industry-focused environment without a lot of administrative hurdles.


As an entrepreneurially-minded individual with an outgoing personality, you will combine your background in microbiology, genetics, biomanufacturing, and instrumentation with new technology development and important applications in environmental sustainability. You will excel in an opportunity to enable and foster wide-ranging scientific collaborations with some of the world’s leading scientists, engineers, students, fellows, and corporate partners, both inside and outside the Wyss. You enjoy working with and supporting diverse groups of people, and diverse projects, and leveraging your own expertise and that of others to create innovations that can change the world.



About the Role:

We are looking for an innovative scientist/bioengineer with a background in the sustainability challenges faced in food, agriculture, carbon removal / negative emissions, materials, and energy. Ideally, you will come to the role ready to both support existing efforts and to launch new projects across multiple labs targeting sustainability applications. Engaging with outside opinion leaders and industrial stakeholders to determine best approaches will be key. Reporting to the Principal Scientist, you will work to enable existing projects, launch new projects, create partnerships, and help determine the course of future research, with the goal to identify new product solutions and the unique opportunity to follow your passion either at the Institute or as a future co-founder of a Wyss start-up.


Position Description

What you'll do:

Manage and train others on research methodology
Evaluate new opportunities to direct the expertise of the Synthetic Biology platform toward exciting applications in sustainability, including microbiology, sensing/diagnostics, materials, research tools and methods, and manufacturing approaches
Participate in envisioning and writing research proposals and reports to funding agencies, and/or outside partners. Provide critical data, figures or information for grant and patent submissions.
Write and collaborate with faculty and other researchers on manuscripts, abstracts and other publications of research findings.
Maintain and sustain our institutional awareness of new developments in Synthetic Biology for sustainability and climate applications, creating ways to disseminate this knowledge internally as necessary.
Identify new external collaboration opportunities with the business development team.
Present research results at Wyss internal and external meetings.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others
Conduct and contribute to efforts towards tool development for fast-growing photosynthetic organisms. Optimize protocols, contribute to the design, assay and resource development on multiple technology-enabling platform areas of the Institute.



Basic Qualifications

What you'll need:

Bachelors degree in microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering, or material science.
A minimum of five years of experience in the above areas. A PhD may count towards years of experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Desirable Skills:

PhD is strongly preferred.
Full-time post graduate industry experience with a focus on product development is preferred.
Experience with grant writing preferred.
Fermentation, fabrication, and instrumentation experience, in either industry or academic setting preferred.
Demonstrated success in leading and working in cross-functional teams. Excellent documentation, analytical, communication, and inter-personal skills.
Comfortable in a fast-paced translational environment and able to adjust scientific approach based upon changing priorities.
Ability to seek out collaborations and manage and mentor others.
Demonstrated ability to engage with multiple labs, institutes, and outside entities to enable new project directions.
Experience with computation, next-generation sequencing, and data science.
Experience with multiple model / non-model microbes required.

Working Conditions

This position will be based on our campus in Boston, MA and will require on-campus presence. Subject to business needs, the Wyss Institute generally supports flexible work arrangements.

Harvard requires COVID vaccination for all Harvard community members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/.


Additional Information

Harvard is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.



Why you’ll like working with us:

At the Wyss Institute, you’re a member of a supportive, dynamic community that is united by its shared goal of changing the world through groundbreaking technology development and commercialization. We encourage your professional growth and development through mentorship and tuition reimbursement to support continued learning, and more. We also support your physical, financial, and mental well-being through generous time off benefits, gym reimbursements, and other programs offered through Harvard. Our community will be relocating to a new, state of the art life sciences building in the lively Fenway neighborhood in spring 2023, where you will have access to multiple amenities including a roof terrace with stunning views of Boston and proximity to numerous restaurants and cultural attractions. We value an inclusive and diverse workforce, and believe that our differences enrich the work environment for all.

Our outstanding benefits package includes:

Time Off: 3 - 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 12.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
Retirement: University-funded retirement plan contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.
Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
Wellness options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.
Facilities access and Discounts: Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.

Harvard Medical School strives to cultivate an environment that promotes inclusiveness and collaboration among students, faculty and staff and to create new avenues for discussion that will advance our shared mission to improve the health of people throughout the world.


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