Research Assistant

About This Opportunity

We are seeking a motivated part-time Research Assistant to support ongoing gas fermentation research projects within a multidisciplinary research environment.

In this role, you will provide additional technical support for experimental work and routine laboratory operations, ensuring project milestones can be achieved within required timelines.

You will support and assist with gas fermentation research through anaerobic microbial cultivation, operation of bench-scale fermentation systems, analytical testing, sample processing, and fermentation data analysis as well as general laboratory activities, while contributing to research focused on industrial biotechnology and sustainable bioprocessing applications.

Key responsibilities will include:

Microbiology & Anaerobic Techniques

• Culture and maintain anaerobic microorganisms (e.g. Clostridium spp.)
• Perform sterile techniques, contamination control, and strain preservation
• Conduct anaerobic culturing using anaerobic chambers/gloveboxes and Hungate or serum bottle techniques

Fermentation & Bioprocessing

• Operate and monitor bench-scale bioreactors (batch, fed-batch, and continuous systems)
• Monitor fermentation parameters including pH, temperature, agitation, and gas flow rates
• Conduct gas-fed fermentations using gases such as CO, CO₂, and H₂
• Perform liquid and gas phase sampling

Analytical & Data Analysis

• Use analytical techniques including spectrophotometry (OD measurements) and gas mass spectrometry
• Analyse gas composition and fermentation performance data
• Process, plot, and interpret fermentation and growth trends

General Duties

• Undertake other duties as reasonably directed by the supervisor