About Rarebird

Rarebird is at the forefront of modernizing how and why we drink coffee. We've developed Px coffee, a patented coffee containing paraxanthine (Px) instead of caffeine, offering the benefits of coffee without the jitters, anxiety, or sleep disruption associated with caffeine. We're seeking a talented, motivated scientist to execute and accelerate our research efforts in developing a biomanufacturing route to produce Px using engineered enzymes. This position is perfect for someone wishing to get in early and grow with a fast-paced, innovative company.

Notable company highlights:

• A venture-backed startup whose investors include Y Combinator, First Round Capital, AgFunder, and 43North
• Px coffee was awarded Best New Product by the National Coffee Association in 2023

Job Summary

The ideal candidate will play a critical role in the development and optimization of systems for microbial expression of enzymes and catalytic metabolite synthesis. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and process development in industrial biotechnology.

Key Responsibilities

The role will perform many, but not necessarily all, of the following duties:

Molecular Cloning:

• Design and construct recombinant plasmids for gene expression in bacterial hosts.
• Perform transformation and analysis of engineered strains.
• Utilize standard techniques for verification of constructs.
• Optimize conditions (promoters, terminators, secretion signals) to improve expression efficiency.

Microbial Cell Culture & Biofermentation Process Optimization:

• Perform microbial culture at various scales (shake flasks, bench-scale fermenters, and bioreactors).
• Optimize culture conditions (media composition, temperature, pH, aeration, and agitation) for high-yield protein production.
• Monitor cell growth, substrate utilization, and metabolite/enzyme production.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot small-scale bioreactors.
• Implement fed-batch and continuous fermentation strategies.
• Develop and execute enzyme purification protocols (TFF, micro/ultrafiltration, etc.)
• Characterize purified proteins (SDS-PAGE, enzymatic assays, spectrophotometric analysis, etc.).
• Assess enzyme activity, stability, and kinetics for functional validation.

Catalytic Metabolite Synthesis:

• Perform catalytic cell-free transformation of substrate to metabolite (i.e. caffeine to Px)
• Operate reactions at various scales (microreactors, pilot, etc.)
• Optimize reaction conditions for yield and purity

Data & Documentation:

• Ensure compliance with biosafety and laboratory safety standards.
• Assist in the maintenance of laboratory equipment and inventory management.
• Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory records, including experimental designs, results, and troubleshooting steps.
• Analyze experimental data, generate reports, and present findings to the research team.
• Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and technical documentation.

Qualifications & Skills

The ideal candidate will possess many, but not necessarily all, of the following:

Required:

• B.S., M.S., or higher in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• 2+ years of hands-on, wet laboratory experience in molecular cloning, microbial cell culture, and/or biofermentation
• Experience in standard molecular biology techniques (PCR, gel electrophoresis, cloning methods), microbial cell culture and fermentation, protein isolation/purification (homogenization, filtration, etc.), and/or enzymatic reaction optimization
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an acute attention to detail and passion for innovation
• Highly organized with the ability to plan, multi-task and manage time effectively
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment

Preferred:

• Knowledge of additional metabolic engineering and synthetic biology tools
• Familiarity with analytical methods such as HPLC, LC-MS, or spectroscopy
• Experience with setup and operation of fermentation bench scale bioreactors

What We Offer

• Baseline Compensation: $60,000 - $80,000k per year, dependent on experience and expertise
• As a member of Startup-Up New York, this position is NY State income tax exempt (up to 10 years)
• Competitive equity package commensurate with experience and ability to build long-term value at the company
• Benefits include: healthcare, vision, and dental insurance, and 401k
• Potential for career and responsibility growth with expansion of R&D programs
• Opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in a rapidly growing, innovative start-up

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: Buffalo, NY (in-person)