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Location: Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH
Expected start date: July 2026
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent, with standard 6-month probation
Salary: £38,000 - £50,000 annually (based on experience) + pension, benefits, and generous share options
Company Overview
BugBiome is developing bioinsecticides derived from the crop microbiome. We isolate and characterise beneficial microbes, screening them for natural insecticidal properties using phenotypic screening of insect behaviour.
Role Summary
We're looking for a product-focused microbiologist to lead the product development of microbial insecticides from early efficacy through to scalable, field-ready products. This is a hands-on role for someone with a strong foundation in fermentation and microbial development, who is excited to take ownership of product pipelines rather than single workstreams.
You will act as the bridge between screening, and external partners leading on fermentation and formulation to translate promising microbial strains into robust, commercially viable products aligned with defined Target Product Profiles (TPPs).
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys lab based R+D alongside end-to-end product ownership, combining technical depth with strategic thinking and collaboration to develop good products that can be used to protect crops from interesting hits.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Pipeline Ownership
- Lead the progression of microbial assets from initial efficacy → formulation → product characterisation → field readiness
- Drive development against defined Target Product Profiles (TPPs) across multiple products with support of senior management in defining TPPs
- Build and refine a repeatable product development pipeline
Fermentation & Scale-Up
- Lead fermentation strategy and optimisation
- Translate strains into scalable, stable production processes
- Optimise for yield, robustness, and cost of goods (COGs)
- Work across upstream processing and contribute to downstream considerations including tech transfer to CDMO for scaling fermentation in EU and US
Strain Development & Analytics
- Oversee strain performance optimisation and development workflows
- Define and implement analytical methods and QC inputs/outputs e.g. LC-MS
- Ensure consistency, reproducibility, and data-driven decision making
Formulation & Product Characterisation
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners on formulation development
- Guide product stability, storage, and shelf-life strategy
- Support translation into field-ready formats
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as the interface between screening, process development, and external collaborators
- Confidently hand off and take ownership of workstreams across disciplines
- Work closely with external partners on scale-up, formulation, and trials
Process & Documentation
- Develop and maintain SOPs and development frameworks to support scaling and reproducibility
- Ensure strong data capture, interpretation, and iteration across projects
Team Development
- Contribute to mentoring junior scientists and shaping the product development function as the company grows
Required Skills and Experience
Education & Background
- MSc or PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, or related field
- 3+ years of relevant industry experience
Technical Expertise
- Strong experience in microbial scale-up, and characterisation (essential)
- Experience translating microbial strains into scalable processes or products
- Background in molecular biology, synthetic biology or genetic engineering (desirable)
- Working knowledge of downstream processing, formulation, and stability considerations (desirable)
Product & Project Experience
- Experience working across R&D to product development and in early-stage research
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stage development projects
- Understanding of cost, scalability, and commercial constraints
Core Skills
- Strong experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation
- Experience with SOP development and process documentation
- Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical teams
Desirable
- Experience developing biopesticides or crop protection products
- Experience working with Bacillus, EPFs, or other microbial biocontrol agents
- Experience collaborating or managing external partners (e.g. CROs, formulation or manufacturing partners)
- Experience working with plants, greenhouse trials, or insect bioassays
Why BugBiome?
- Ownership: Lead product development from discovery to real-world impact
- Culture: Hands-on startup environment with a diverse, driven team
- Facilities: Greenhouse facilities and labs within Norwich Research Park
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays), flexible hours, pension, share options, and monthly team socials
Diversity Statement
BugBiome is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment process. Let us know if you have any special requirements. Location: Norwich, UK. Must have UK work authorization; unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.
Application Process
To apply, please email the following documents to alicia@bugbiome.com and chris@bugbiome.com with the subject line: "Application for Product Development Microbiologist Role"
- Cover Letter: Summarise your suitability for the role and explain why you're excited to join BugBiome.
- CV: A maximum of 2 pages outlining your relevant experience and education.
- Project Summary: Provide a one-page overview of a product development or discovery project you have led or contributed to. Clearly outline the project objective, the approach taken, and the key outcomes or lessons learned. Strong examples will span the full development pipeline from initial strain selection for a target phenotype, through optimisation of metabolite production or functional performance, quality control, to scale-up and application. Other relevant experience will be considered if it can be applicable to the field of research at BugBiome.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis closing on Friday 24th April 2026.
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