Title: Leader Microbial Strain Improvement - Bioprocess R&D
Location: Indiana-Indianapolis
Dow AgroSciences is seeking a visionary and experienced Leader for the Strain Improvement Group to enable Dow AgroSciences to deliver against its ambitious growth strategy, especially in Agro-Biotechnology. This position, within the Bioprocess R&D function, provides technical expertise, project leadership, and people leadership for microbial strain improvement research and development.
Dow AgroSciences, LLC, is a top tier agricultural company providing innovative crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seed, and agricultural biotechnology solutions to serve the world's growing population. We do this through a people-centric performance culture, through our commitments to sustainable development and environmental stewardship, and through collaborations with world-class institutions.
Key Responsibilities:
* Provide technical and administrative leadership to the strain improvement group, demonstrating expertise in broad technical areas (metabolic engineering, high-throughput screening, microbial physiology, systems biology)
* Defining and implementing a comprehensive strain improvement technical strategy to deliver against strain productivity targets
* Build strong relationships with fermentation research and manufacturing to ensure effective and efficient implementation of lead strains
* As driven by project needs, build and sustain a technical network (across The Dow Chemical Company, within Dow AgroSciences functions, and externally) that is deployed to ensure project success.
* Advance our existing microbial strain improvement capability to meet the needs of a diverse and growing R&D organization; especially in fermentation based products like insecticides and fungicides
* Monitor and implement emerging technology and capability offerings to accelerate strategic objectives, build and maintain an external network to external collaboration partners
* Represent the Strain Improvement Group internally and externally
* Ensure that sound scientific discipline (Scientific Method, technical documentation, intellectual property management and peer review) is applied.
This position is located in Indianapolis, IN, USA.
* PhD in a relevant scientific discipline with at least 6 years of relevant experience of industrial microbial strain development is essential.
* Direct experience in biology and genetics of Actinomycetes and/or secondary metabolite production is preferable.
* Experience in leading teams in a complex environment and a solid track record of successful project management and leadership of fermentation based product development
* Technically understand all aspects of bioproduct development and its industry
* Understanding of Systems Biology, and mathematical modeling of bioprocesses would be advantageous
* A highly interactive operational style, capable to working in multidisciplinary teams
* Capable to develop a strategy and drive the implementation with the demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders
