Apply Now : Head of R&D – Microbiology & Strain Engineering

Company Description

BacAlt specializes in converting post-harvest waste into value-added biopolymers. These biopolymers have applications across various sectors including textile, skincare, wound care, and agriculture. Our innovative approach focuses on sustainability and creating valuable products from waste, making a meaningful impact in multiple industries.

Job Title

: Head of R&D - Fermentation and Strain Engineering

Department

: R&D Department

Location

: Bangalore

Qualification

: PhD / M.Tech in Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, or Industrial Biotech

Job Type

: Full-Time

As Head of R&D, you’ll drive innovation at the core of BacAlt’s technology. You’ll lead a team of scientists and engineers working on :

• Bacterial strain improvement & fermentation optimization
• Growth kinetics, flux modeling & process scaling
• Development of novel products from γ-PGA and BNC
• Experimental design & data-driven decision making
• Bridging lab-scale science with pilot & commercial scale execution
• Own the full R&D roadmap — from lab bench to pilot transfer
• Apply advanced fermentation kinetics, statistical modeling, and instrumentation for yield and cost optimization
• Guide strain engineering efforts (mutagenesis, adaptive evolution, CRISPR)
• Design smart experiments using DoE and analyze results using tools like R, Python, or JMP
• Collaborate with MSAT, Product, and Manufacturing teams to ensure scalable, robust process handover
• Mentor and build a strong R&D team with a startup mindset