Scientist Computational Biology

Join our team : Willow Biosciences, now part of Mycofeast Ltd., is a leading biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing industrial manufacturing of pure, consistent and sustainable ingredients. Willow develops and produces high-purity ingredients for personal care, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical markets. Willow's team has a proven track record of developing and commercializing bio-based manufacturing processes and products to benefit our B2B partners and their customers. Position: Scientist, Computational Biology We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Computational Biologist with experience in bioinformatics and data science to join our growing team and support engineering efforts for biosynthesis and biotransformation using microorganisms, particularly yeast. This role is ideal for someone who is excited about building scalable and reproducible data pipelines to support biological research and industrial biotechnology. You will work within our computational biology team and closely with a wider multidisciplinary team, including molecular biologists, analytical chemists, fermentation scientists, and process chemists, to enable enzyme and strain engineering, as well as process development, through our state-of-the-art computational platform. Your responsibilities will include the design of data-driven libraries for enzyme and strain engineering, integration of high-throughput screening (HTP) data with process optimization outputs, and the development of automated and standardized workflows for data processing using tools like Snakemake or Nextflow. A strong foundation in scripting (Python or R), comfort in Unix-like environments, and familiarity with database management are essential. Previous experience working in a laboratory setting and collaborating with bench scientists is highly valuable. You should be enthusiastic about applying computational tools to streamline biological data workflows and committed to contributing to a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment. Location: Sunnyvale, CA US Education: PhD in Computational Biology, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, or similar field; interdisciplinary work is strongly encouraged. Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience analyzing biological data (e.g., genomics, RNA-seq, multivariate statistics, or machine learning applied to biological datasets). Demonstrated ability to independently execute bioinformatics or data science projects, preferably within the biotechnology industry. Proficiency in scripting and data manipulation using Python and/or R. Solid understanding of basic statistical methods used in biological data analysis Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and a commitment to standardization and process improvement Knowledge of statistics used in biological data analysis. Proven ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with scientists and engineers. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate scientific requirements into computational solutions. Responsibilities Include: Support in-house sequencing efforts, including analysis of whole-genome and amplicon sequencing. Assist in the maintenance and improvement of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS); experience with Benchling strongly preferred. Contribute to the standardization of data analysis and reporting practices across teams. Develop computational workflows to analyze large datasets, including sequence, analytical, and fermentation data. Manage and maintain internal SQL databases for storing and querying experimental and analytical data and working in a Unix/Linux command-line environment. Automate routine data processing tasks to improve efficiency and reproducibility. Workflow management using tools such as Snakemake, Nextflow, or similar. Leverage statistics for use in biological data analysis. Convert ad-hoc analysis scripts into modular, reproducible pipelines. Leverage the use of version control systems like Git and following best practices in collaborative software development (e.g., documentation, modular design) Other: the ability to work in a highly parallel manner, ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team; critical thinking and attention to detail; ability to plan, prioritize responsibilities, and multi-task; excellent housekeeping and safety practices; outstanding team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), excellent documentation, and organization skills; a strong desire to grow as a scientific researcher, learn new techniques and adopt new technologies for process improvements. Employment Details: Type: Full-time, Onsite Travel: Not required Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Physical Requirements: Ability to perform repetitive tasks using hands and wrists. Competitive salary package Generous PTO and company holidays Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance 401(k) retirement plan management Compensation & Benefits: Competitive salary package Generous PTO and company holidays Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance 401(k) retirement plan management Equal Opportunity Employer: Willow Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.