Research Associate

Research Associate - Cell & Process Development Apply Now Vow is a food company – a very different one. We create real meat products from animal cells, bringing together cutting edge innovations in science, engineering, culinary and design. We're on a mission to feed billions with food that's good for your taste buds and your planet. We’re on the search The Role We’re looking for a Research Associate who can bridge the why of cell behaviour with the how of process design. This hands‑on role requires flexing between outcome‑focused R&D and practical process implementation: you’ll drive hypothesis‑driven experimentation and bring biological insight to process decisions that directly advance Vow’s company goals. Equally, you’ll operate benchtop bioreactors, maintain seed trains, and optimise processes. You’ll play a critical role in understanding how to grow mammalian cells to achieve specific nutritional, sensory, and functional attributes - and then translate these insights into new and/or optimised cell culture processes that can be scaled to the factory floor. To achieve this, you’ll collaborate closely with many cross‑functional teams, including other scientists, factory operators, engineers, and product developers to ensure processes scale seamlessly from benchtop to our 200–20,000 L production bioreactors. You're a versatile, hands‑on scientist who has the capability & motivation to flex between R&D exploration and practical execution. This role is ideal for a strong cell biologist who’s excited to expand their skillset into process development, no prior PD experience required (though any exposure is a bonus. Bachelor’s degree in cell biology, biotechnology or a related field, with 2-3 years of hands‑on experience working with mammalian cell culture (or other complex cell systems)Extra bonus if you have experience or familiarity with bioreactor operation or process optimisation Strong grasp of cell biology fundamentals and how culture conditions affect growth, behaviour, and key cell traits Experience designing experiments, interpreting data, and translating biological insight into practical outcomes (process, product, or both) Hands‑on experience with cell‑based assays, molecular biology methods, planning/executing well‑designed studies & how to interpret them to extract actionable biological insightExtra bonus if you have experience with omics approaches (transcriptomic/proteomic/metabolomic) Nice to have: Exposure to DOE or multivariate experimental design Experience with statistical and/or data analysis tools Experience supporting process scale‑up or manufacturing technology transfer Soft skills that will make someone successful: Enjoys variety - you’re motivated by flexing across different technical problems, from R&D ideation to hands‑on process development work Curious and creative problem solver who approaches challenges with first-principles thinking Clear communicator and effective collaborator who knows when to seek input and when to run independently Comfortable balancing rigour and speed - knowing when to move fast versus dig deeper Happy to get stuck into the unglamorous but essential lab tasks that keep things running smoothly Drive experimental design and process optimisation Design and execute experiments to understand how process parameters impact outcomes like cell traits, nutrient composition & texture. Translate biological insights into optimised, scalable cell culture processes Use data and learnings to iterate quickly, and propose improvements to lab workflows and protocols Contribute to hands‑on cell culture work and process development Prepare and maintain cultures across flasks, shake cultures, and seed trains Operate and troubleshoot benchtop bioreactors to test and optimise culture processes designed for factory floor Perform shared lab tasks such as media prep, cleaning, and routine equipment maintenance Collaborate and scale across the company Work closely with other scientists, engineers, product and manufacturing teams to scale processes from lab to factory floor Support process implementation and continuous improvement on the production floor Own your projects end‑to‑end, ensuring outcomes are aligned with Vow’s broader goals Developed a strong understanding of Vow’s upstream manufacturing processes, including key trade‑offs, pain points, and opportunities, learned Vow’s lab systems and workflows (including our in‑house LIMS) and can operate independently in the lab Delivered early impact on a process optimisation or improvement project while building strong relationships across teams Within three months: Successfully delivered your own process optimisation project, translating biological insights into practical outcomes Developed a working knowledge of factory floor manufacturing processes and can integrate these constraints into R&D decisions Shown the ability to challenge assumptions, apply first‑principles thinking, and balance speed with rigour in decision‑making Demonstrated adaptability, confidently switching between R&D exploration, process design, and implementation work By the end of your first year: Played a key role in bridging biology and process development, using biological insights to deliver measurable product outcomes (e.g. nutrient composition, sensory attributes, texture) Owned and delivered multiple projects end‑to‑end, from hypothesis through to implementation on the factory floor Supported successful technology transfer and continuous improvement activities, ensuring smooth scale‑up of new processes Contributed to team growth by sharing knowledge, mentoring others, and fostering a culture of learning and experimentation A diverse, mission‑led, dream team of Vowzers Our mission is to feed billions, which means making food products for everyone. To do this we need a team that’s representative of the people we serve. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view and have built a culture to match. Be yourself and come as you are. Learn from the best Our team includes some of the world’s top scientists, innovators, operators, and creatives with decades of industry experience. Despite our experiences, we all strive to build, break, learn, and repeat. We see the impossible as temporary and strive to learn and support our company and fellow Vowzers’ growth as much as possible. Cutting‑edge technology We’re bringing together innovations in science, engineering, and food, to create the world’s most unique culinary experiences. All without compromising on ethics or our planet. Since our inception in 2019, we have held the title of being the first startup to cultivate meat from the cells of an undomesticated animal. We're wild because we can be. Backed by the best We can make a real impact thanks to our investorsBlackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Grok Ventures, Tenacious Ventures, P7 Ventures, Toyota Ventures and PeakBridge VC. Everyone is an owner In addition to competitive base salaries, each and every ‘Vowzer’ owns equity in the company so we can all benefit from our hard work and future success. Paid parental leave For those who choose to start a family, we offer 8 weeks of paid caregiver leave and an additional 8 weeks paid leave for the birth giver. We offer support for interstate or overseas team members, their families and, of course, their pets. Unlimited personal leave We understand life is hard sometimes. Emergencies happen, kids get sick, medical complications make it hard to be our best selves. Whatever the case, when faced with truly difficult situations, we don't want you to worry about work. Which is why Vow has an unlimited personal leave policy. We'll keep the lights on while you take care of yourself. Flexible working hours and location We value work‑life balance and we recognise that everyone works differently. We want you to do your best work, so you can choose how and where you do it. Converted warehouse 'campus' Complete with a glass‑walled lab, manufacturing lines, snacks, a culinary centre and professional‑grade coffee machine. Heaps of tasty samples from our culinary centre Our fantastic “food inventors” on the Vow team are always cooking up new product prototypes, and all Vowzers are given the opportunity to taste, give feedback, and learn from their culinary prowess. Human and dog friendly office An inclusive community and culture, in a welcoming office, we encourage you to bring your true self…and your dogs. A variety of social clubs It's Vowzers who make our culture. From book clubs to hiking groups, we’re always looking for ways to learn and engage with each other. #J-18808-Ljbffr