Postdoctoral Researcher - Environmental Microbiology

Postdoctoral Researcher Env Microbiology 

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Scientist with Microbial Ecology or Environmental Microbiology expertise to join our dynamic international team and contribute to an ambitious project exploring and developing microbial communities for diverse R&D goals in Crop Science and Pharma. The new role will work closely with experts in Microbiology, Crop Sciences, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering, and Data Science. This position is for 2 years and will be based in Chesterfield, MO. The expected start date for this position is October 1, 2025, with potential for a later date.

The primary responsibilities of this role, Postdoctoral Researcher - Environmental Microbiology, are to: 

• Leading experimental design in consultation with the project team to investigate and perturbate environmental microbial communities to achieve desired biochemical outcomes;
• Perform experimental manipulations and sample processing, including DNA and RNA extraction;
• Analyze genomic, metagenomic, and metatranscriptomic data to characterize microbial community structure and function;
• Apply robust statistical analyses to microbial datasets to draw meaningful conclusions;
• Manage data and maintain internal documentation in compliance with Bayers standards;
• Ensure timely updates and presentations of research progress and results to the project team;
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary, international team to achieve common research goals;
• Communicate findings effectively through scientific writing and presentations, both internally and potentially externally;
• Contribute to biotransformation, enzymatic, or bioremediation research as needed;

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

 Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology, Microbial Metabolism, Environmental Microbiology, or related field;
• Strong professional skills and expertise evident from publications and presentations;
• Extensive experience in field work and conducting perturbation experiments with environmental microbial communities;
• Experience with metagenomics and metatranscriptomics;
• Experience characterizing biochemical cycles performed by microbial communities and /or the effects of environmental stress on microbial community structure and function;
• Strong scientific writing and communication skills demonstrated through publications and presentations;
• Demonstrated ability to develop testable hypotheses and apply robust statistical analyses to microbial data sets to draw meaningful conclusions and advance scientific understanding;
• Self-driven with good time and project management skills;
• Experience and/or desire to work as part of a large, multidisciplinary, international team on common goals;

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of postdoctoral research experience;
• Experience in enhancing complex microbial communities to achieve a particular biochemical outcome; for example, work with synthetic communities;
• Experience in biotransformation, enzymatic, or bioremediation research;
• Targeted isolation and characterization of microbial strains with desired metabolic properties;
• Bioinformatics skills.  

This posting will be available for application until at least September 5, 2025.

Relocation may be offered for this role.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $86,394.40 to $129,591.60. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc. This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicants location, market data/ranges, an applicants skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

Bayer offers a wide variety of competitive compensation and benefits programs. If you meet the requirements of this unique opportunity, and want to impact our mission Science for a better life, we encourage you to apply now. Be part of something bigger. Be you. Be Bayer. To all recruitment agencies: Bayer does not accept unsolicited third party resumes. Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.