Wet-lab microbiology, microbial systems, bioreactor engineering

Paid startup role, full-time – Sustainability Startup

Needed: Hardware developers & microbiology experts for a food wastewater treatment startup
Start-up: Neuston Biosystems Inc.
Location: Toronto, Ontario

The Opportunity: Develop an Innovative Wastewater Solution for Ontario’s Cheesemakers

Neuston Biosystems an early, pre-seed stage hardware startup in the agri-food space. We are developing a biological wastewater treatment system for food processing waste streams (particularly cheese whey), by remediating pollutants and transforming them into microalgal biomass byproducts for agricultural use (e.g., biofertilizers, livestock feed). This decentralized, scalable technology will reduce waste management costs and support operational sustainability for food producers, while enabling their participation in circular agri-food bioeconomies.

The Microbiologist & Bioreactor Specialist role will support bench-scale prototype development, microbial system performance analysis, and data-driven bioprocess optimization. The position combines wet-lab microbiology, bioreactor engineering, and computational data analysis to drive iterative improvements toward a minimum viable product (MVP). As employee #3, the candidate will work directly with our founders – a bioreactor engineer and a business executive – in a scrappy, dynamic, flat, collaborative organizational structure to drive early-stage research and technology development.

Why It Matters

• Environmental Impact: Keeping polluted waste streams out of waterways and sewers.
• Sustainability Impact: Unlocking new uses for dairy waste and promoting water reuse.
• Support for Local Businesses: Helping cheesemakers ditch expensive and intermittent waste disposal solutions and turn their waste into something reliably valuable without breaking the bank.
• Industry Impact: Staying ahead of regulations and waste management challenges while promoting the circular agri-food economy.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or a status refugee under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Over age 15 and under age 31 at the project start date (for wage subsidy eligability)
• Not receiving Employment Insurance (EI) during the project period (for wage subsidy eligability)
• Minimum BSc with three years of direct experience in microalgae cultivation, or MSc/PhD with microalgae-related experience.
• Minimum three years of experience in a professional research environment using wet-lab microbial analysis techniques and equipment (e.g. gram-staining microcopy & image data analysis, ash-free dry weight measurement & statistical analysis, qPCR/gene sequencing & bioinformatics analysis, etc.)
• Proficient in microalgae/microbial cultivation, including suspended cultures and attached biofilms.
• Experience in wastewater treatment or bacterial biofilm cultivation is an asset.
• The ideal candidate is a self-starter, inquisitive, organized, and mechanically inclined. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, assemble, and iterate on custom photobioreactors and microbial test systems using CAD software and 3D printing tools, supporting scalable designs for real-world deployment.
• Use digitally logged workflows in Google Workspace to manage and monitor long-term cultivation of algae and bacterial consortia across all treatment phases: transitioning sterile lab culture to artificial and real wastewaters, reactor startup/biofilm formation, treatment in fluctuating waste loads, and biomass harvesting.
• Execute wet-lab experiments using microbiological and biochemical techniques such as gram staining, qPCR, gene sequencing, ash-free dry weight measurement, and microscopy. Maintain detailed digital records of protocols, metadata, and results.
• Analyze large optical imaging and qPCR datasets (Big Data) using ImageJ, Python, and R to evaluate biofilm growth dynamics, colonization patterns, and system performance over time.
• Conduct bioinformatics analysis of sequencing results (e.g., with MEGA or Geneious) to assess microbial communities, functional gene dynamics, and potential synergistic metabolic interactions. 
• Perform statistical analysis of the influence of operational controls (e.g. temperature, humidity, flow rate, hydraulic retention time) on key reactor performance metrics (e.g., nutrient removal efficiency, biomass yield, pH trends). Develop a lumped-element digital model of the system behaviour.
• Collaborate on prototype development by integrating bioanalytical feedback into hardware and process optimization, contributing to a functional, scalable MVP suitable for pre-commercial validation trials with Ontario food producers.

Time, Location, and Compensation:

• Specific work term, schedule, start date, and wage compensation will be finalized based on the availability and requirements of wage subsidy funding sources at the candidate's time of application. Wage subsidy programs targeted to support this role may provide $20,000 - $30,000 for a six month to one year full-time work term (minimum 30 hours per week).
• This position is on-site at Neuston's garage-style wet lab in Toronto (accessible by transit). Remote work is limited due to the hands-on nature of the role.
• Extended engagements may evolve into equity participation or co-founder status based on mutual interest and long-term fit.

Interested?

Send us an application or message at: scott.p@neustonbiosystems.com

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