Sunflower Wellness Inc
Metabolic Engineer/Synthetic Biologist
Sunflower Wellness Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285
Sunflower Wellness Inc provided pay range
This range is provided by Sunflower Wellness Inc. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range $100,000.00/yr - $120,000.00/yr
Direct message the job poster from Sunflower Wellness Inc
Sunflower Wellness is seeking a Metabolic Engineer or Synthetic Biologist to spearhead the development of microbial biosynthesis platforms for the production of high-value natural products. Drawing inspiration from platforms like BayMedica and CB Therapeutics, our goal is to engineer scalable biomanufacturing systems using yeast, E. coli, or other microbial hosts, with sugars or amino acids as feedstocks.
You’ll work at the intersection of strain engineering, pathway optimization, and precision fermentation to build next‑gen alternatives to rare plant‑derived molecules—supporting efforts across cannabinoids, alkaloids, and other bioactive small molecules.
Key Responsibilities
Engineer yeast and bacterial strains (S. cerevisiae, E. coli, etc.) for de novo biosynthesis of target compounds
Design and optimize heterologous pathways using synthetic biology tools (modular cloning, CRISPR/Cas, genome integration)
Identify, express, and optimize enzymes (e.g., P450s, prenyltransferases, decarboxylases) for key transformations
Perform flux analysis and balance cofactor regeneration, toxicity mitigation, and pathway bottlenecks
Bioprocess Development
Design, monitor, and scale lab‑scale fermentations (flasks, bioreactors)
Work closely with purification chemists on downstream extraction and analytics (HPLC, GC‑MS, NMR)
Develop high‑throughput screening methods to evaluate strain performance
Scientific Writing & IP Strategy
Draft and co‑author patent applications, invention disclosures, and peer‑reviewed publications
Write technical whitepapers, posters, and decks for conferences and investor meetings
Stay abreast of literature on biosynthetic pathways, new hosts, and fermentation innovations
Collaboration & Tech Transfer
Interface with synthetic chemists, analytical chemists, and formulation scientists to bridge fermentation with product development
Provide technical input during potential tech transfer to CDMOs or external academic partners
Participate in the development of grant applications and regulatory documentation
Qualifications Required:
Ph.D. or Master’s in Bioengineering, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, or related field
3+ years experience in microbial strain engineering, fermentation, or pathway optimization
Strong understanding of carbon flux, cofactor balancing, and metabolic regulation
Experience with yeast and/or E. coli expression systems
Scientific writing experience (papers, patents, or grant applications)
Preferred:
Experience working on cannabinoids, alkaloids, terpenes, or complex small molecules
Familiarity with automated strain construction, Golden Gate, Gibson, or CRISPR/Cas9 methods
Industry/startup experience and understanding of biomanufacturing scale‑up
Exposure to regulatory and cGMP considerations for natural product biosynthesis
Seniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment type Full-time
Job function Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Sunflower Wellness Inc by 2x
Get notified about new Biologist jobs in Denver Metropolitan Area.
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Base pay range $100,000.00/yr - $120,000.00/yr
Direct message the job poster from Sunflower Wellness Inc
Sunflower Wellness is seeking a Metabolic Engineer or Synthetic Biologist to spearhead the development of microbial biosynthesis platforms for the production of high-value natural products. Drawing inspiration from platforms like BayMedica and CB Therapeutics, our goal is to engineer scalable biomanufacturing systems using yeast, E. coli, or other microbial hosts, with sugars or amino acids as feedstocks.
You’ll work at the intersection of strain engineering, pathway optimization, and precision fermentation to build next‑gen alternatives to rare plant‑derived molecules—supporting efforts across cannabinoids, alkaloids, and other bioactive small molecules.
Key Responsibilities
Engineer yeast and bacterial strains (S. cerevisiae, E. coli, etc.) for de novo biosynthesis of target compounds
Design and optimize heterologous pathways using synthetic biology tools (modular cloning, CRISPR/Cas, genome integration)
Identify, express, and optimize enzymes (e.g., P450s, prenyltransferases, decarboxylases) for key transformations
Perform flux analysis and balance cofactor regeneration, toxicity mitigation, and pathway bottlenecks
Bioprocess Development
Design, monitor, and scale lab‑scale fermentations (flasks, bioreactors)
Work closely with purification chemists on downstream extraction and analytics (HPLC, GC‑MS, NMR)
Develop high‑throughput screening methods to evaluate strain performance
Scientific Writing & IP Strategy
Draft and co‑author patent applications, invention disclosures, and peer‑reviewed publications
Write technical whitepapers, posters, and decks for conferences and investor meetings
Stay abreast of literature on biosynthetic pathways, new hosts, and fermentation innovations
Collaboration & Tech Transfer
Interface with synthetic chemists, analytical chemists, and formulation scientists to bridge fermentation with product development
Provide technical input during potential tech transfer to CDMOs or external academic partners
Participate in the development of grant applications and regulatory documentation
Qualifications Required:
Ph.D. or Master’s in Bioengineering, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, or related field
3+ years experience in microbial strain engineering, fermentation, or pathway optimization
Strong understanding of carbon flux, cofactor balancing, and metabolic regulation
Experience with yeast and/or E. coli expression systems
Scientific writing experience (papers, patents, or grant applications)
Preferred:
Experience working on cannabinoids, alkaloids, terpenes, or complex small molecules
Familiarity with automated strain construction, Golden Gate, Gibson, or CRISPR/Cas9 methods
Industry/startup experience and understanding of biomanufacturing scale‑up
Exposure to regulatory and cGMP considerations for natural product biosynthesis
Seniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment type Full-time
Job function Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Sunflower Wellness Inc by 2x
Get notified about new Biologist jobs in Denver Metropolitan Area.
#J-18808-Ljbffr