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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zymology Program Assistant

💰 $ - $

ZymologyFermentationLaboratoryFood ScienceQuality Control

🎯 Role Definition

The Zymology Program Assistant provides operational and technical support for fermentation and zymology programs across research, pilot, and quality environments. Responsibilities include preparation and sterilization of media, inoculation and cultivation of microbial strains, routine sampling and analytical testing (plate counts, pH, DO, sugar and alcohol analyses), maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies, executing SOPs under GMP or GLP frameworks, and documenting experimental and production records in LIMS and notebooks. The role is a mix of hands-on laboratory work, instrumentation operation, data capture and basic troubleshooting to enable scientists and process engineers to advance fermentation development and ensure product quality.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Laboratory Technician (Microbiology / Food Science)
  • Research Assistant (Biology / Fermentation)
  • Quality Control Technician (Food/BEV/Fermentation)

Advancement To:

  • Fermentation/Process Development Scientist
  • Zymology Specialist / Senior Laboratory Technologist
  • Pilot Plant Supervisor or Production Process Lead
  • Quality Assurance (Microbiology) Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Sensory Scientist / Sensory Technician
  • LIMS / Data Management Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Prepare sterile culture media, buffers, and reagent solutions to specification, perform autoclave cycles, and verify sterility, ensuring all materials meet SOP and GMP standards for fermentation experiments and pilot runs.
  • Inoculate and cultivate yeast, bacteria, and mixed cultures under aseptic conditions, monitor growth parameters, and follow strain-specific propagation schedules to support bench and pilot-scale fermentations.
  • Collect, label, and process samples at defined timepoints during fermentation runs for microbiological, chemical and physical analysis, ensuring chain-of-custody and sample integrity.
  • Perform routine microbiological assays including plate counts, serial dilutions, Gram staining, and streaking, and interpret results against acceptance criteria to support contamination control and process characterization.
  • Measure and record critical process variables such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), specific gravity, Brix, sugar consumption and ethanol production using calibrated probes and analytical instruments.
  • Operate and maintain laboratory instruments and analytical equipment—spectrophotometers, HPLC/GC (basic operation and sample prep), refractometers, titrators, and bioreactor control systems—following preventive maintenance schedules and documenting service.
  • Execute and document routine analytical methods for fermentation monitoring: enzymatic assays, colorimetric assays, HPLC sugar/alcohol analysis, GC volatile profiling, and basic chromatography techniques as required.
  • Maintain, calibrate and troubleshoot benchtop bioreactors, fermenters and ancillary equipment; assist engineers with scale-up activities and maintain accurate equipment logs and changeover records.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate, timely experimental records, batch records and laboratory notebooks (electronic and paper), entering test results and metadata into LIMS or other data systems for traceability and regulatory compliance.
  • Support sample preparation and analytical workflows for sensory testing panels, coordinate sample labeling, storage, and distribution to sensory teams under blind-test protocols when needed.
  • Monitor inventory of reagents, media components, consumables and PPE; place and track purchase orders, receive and QC incoming lab supplies and manage cold chain storage for strains and biologicals.
  • Follow biosafety, hazardous materials, and waste-management procedures including chemical and biological waste segregation, autoclaving, neutralization and proper disposal in compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
  • Assist in developing and revising SOPs, work instructions and batch records by documenting observed deviations and process improvements, and train technicians on updated procedures under supervision.
  • Participate in routine cleaning and sanitation of fermentation areas and equipment; support GMP-compliant cleaning validation activities and maintain sterile zones to reduce cross-contamination risk.
  • Execute environmental monitoring programs (air, surface, and water sampling) and report findings to quality and microbiology leads; investigate excursions and support corrective actions.
  • Support small-scale process development experiments by preparing experimental setups, running side-by-side comparisons, and compiling results for interpretation by scientists and process engineers.
  • Run in-process QC assays and stability tests, escalate out-of-specification (OOS) or unexpected results, and assist in root cause analysis with senior staff to implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
  • Assist with pilot-scale fermentations including setup, inoculation, feeding strategies, sampling, and record-keeping, coordinating with production teams to ensure smooth scale-up transitions.
  • Provide training and oversight for junior lab staff and interns on aseptic technique, equipment operation and laboratory safety; ensure bench-level compliance with SOPs and Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
  • Support regulatory and compliance activities by preparing documentation for audits, maintaining batch records and test reports, and ensuring traceability for strains, raw materials and finished samples.
  • Perform basic data analysis and visualization of fermentation parameters, generate concise run summaries and reports for research teams, and flag trends that require further investigation.
  • Coordinate with external contract labs for specialized testing, prepare and ship samples per chain-of-custody and IATA regulations when applicable, and review incoming lab reports for accuracy.
  • Maintain a continuous improvement mindset by making practical recommendations to optimize workflows, reduce cycle times, and improve reproducibility of fermentation experiments and QC assays.
  • Assist with strain maintenance and cryopreservation, including glycerol stocks and master cell bank activities, ensuring proper documentation, storage conditions and inventory control.
  • Participate in cross-functional meetings with R&D, process engineering, QA/QC, and operations to align experimental schedules, resource allocation and sample priorities.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests, compile fermentation run data, and perform exploratory analysis to assist scientists in hypothesis generation and process troubleshooting.
  • Contribute to the organization’s laboratory data strategy, including best practices for metadata capture, LIMS entries, and standardized data templates to improve reusability and ML-readiness.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to translate experiment and QC requirements into operational checklists and laboratory engineering tasks.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile-style project reviews where applicable for R&D initiatives; provide status updates and identify resource bottlenecks for upcoming fermentation campaigns.
  • Assist with small equipment procurement research, vendor quotes, and qualification activities for new analytical tools or pilot-scale hardware.
  • Help coordinate training calendars, maintain competency matrices for lab personnel, and track certification renewals for biosafety and equipment use.
  • Support knowledge capture by documenting lessons learned, experimental notes, and common troubleshooting guides to build a searchable laboratory knowledge base.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Aseptic technique and sterile handling of microbial cultures, including inoculation and streaking best practices.
  • Fundamental microbiology skills: plate counts, serial dilutions, colony morphology assessment, Gram staining, and contamination identification.
  • Practical experience with fermentation equipment: benchtop bioreactors, pilot fermenters, DO/pH/temperature probes, peristaltic pumps and agitation systems.
  • Analytical laboratory techniques: HPLC/GC sample preparation basics, spectrophotometry, refractometry, titration, and enzymatic/colorimetric assays used in fermentation monitoring.
  • Operation and routine maintenance of lab instruments and sensors; ability to perform basic troubleshooting and calibration checks.
  • Experience with data systems: LIMS entry, electronic lab notebooks (ELN), Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP), and basic data visualization for run summaries.
  • Familiarity with GMP/GLP and ISO laboratory practices, Good Documentation Practices (GDP), and batch record maintenance.
  • Knowledge of cleaning, sanitation and sterilization methods, waste handling and biosafety level practices relevant to fermentation labs.
  • Sample handling, cold chain management, and cryopreservation techniques for strain banking and inventory control.
  • Ability to follow and contribute to SOPs, execute protocols consistently, and participate in SOP revisions and validation activities.
  • Basic statistical literacy for interpreting QC results, calculating means/standard deviations, limits and reporting trends.
  • Shipping and chain-of-custody procedures for biological and analytical samples; knowledge of IATA regulations for dangerous goods where applicable.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and observational skills to detect subtle deviations in fermentation runs or assay results.
  • Clear verbal and written communication to document experiments, escalate issues, and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Time management and organizational skills to manage multiple simultaneous experiments and prioritize daily tasks.
  • Problem-solving mindset with practical troubleshooting approaches and willingness to escalate complex issues to senior staff.
  • Collaborative team player comfortable working with R&D scientists, process engineers, production, QA/QC and external partners.
  • Adaptability and willingness to work flexible hours as needed to support overnight or time-sensitive fermentation sampling.
  • Initiative and continuous improvement orientation: proactively suggest process improvements and document best practices.
  • Integrity and reliability in maintaining accurate documentation, data integrity and complying with regulatory standards.
  • Training and mentorship capability to onboard interns and junior technicians effectively.
  • Resilience in a lab environment — ability to perform repetitive tasks with high precision and maintain quality under production pressures.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree or equivalent technical certificate in Microbiology, Food Science, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or a related laboratory discipline; or high school diploma with significant laboratory experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Biochemistry, Fermentation Science, Chemical Engineering, or related biological science.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Science / Food Technology
  • Biochemistry / Molecular Biology
  • Fermentation Science / Zymology
  • Chemical or Bioprocess Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of laboratory experience with at least 6–12 months working in fermentation, microbiology or food/beverage QC environments.

Preferred: 2–5+ years of hands-on experience in fermentation labs, pilot-scale operations, or quality control roles in food, beverage, biotech or related industries; experience with LIMS, SOP-driven environments and GMP or GLP practices is highly desirable.

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