Formulation Microbiologist – Bioinsecticide Product Development

Location: Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent, with standard 6-month probation

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 annually (based on experience) + pension, benefits, and generous share options

Application Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis, early submissions encouraged, deadline Monday 2nd June 2025.

Start Date: August 2025 (some flexibility)

Company Overview

BugBiome is developing bioinsecticides derived from the crop microbiome. We isolate and characterise beneficial microbes, screening them for natural insecticidal properties. Our products harness the power of nature to protect crops from pests sustainably and effectively.

Role Summary

We're looking for a formulation-focused microbiologist to lead the development of insecticidal microbial strains into scalable, stable, and trial-ready products. This is a hands-on role for someone with a strong track record in microbe-based formulations for agriculture or biotech, who’s eager to translate lab discoveries into real-world solutions. You'll take promising microbial candidates and turn them into field-ready bioinsecticides. You’ll need to be highly independent, process-driven, and confident in documenting and iterating your work.

Key Responsibilities

• Microbial Strain Production: Scale up microbial strains with insecticidal activity using liquid or solid-state fermentation, optimizing growth conditions for consistency and yield.
• Active Component Isolation and Characterization: Isolate and identify key active components: metabolites, extracts, or cellular material (live or inactivated) driving insecticidal effects.
• Formulation Development and Optimisation: Design and optimize liquid, solid, and other formulations to enhance product stability, field performance, and reproducibility of active ingredient yield.
• Experimental Design & Testing: Plan and execute greenhouse and field trials to evaluate product efficacy and suitability under real-world conditions including collaborations with CROs.
• Process Documentation: Create, refine, and maintain SOPs to support reproducibility, scalability, and compliance across the development pipeline.
• Quality Control: Perform basic QC and consistency checks to ensure formulation reliability and batch-to-batch uniformity.
• Team Development: Contribute to the training and support of junior scientists, with the potential to take on mentorship and leadership responsibilities as the team grows.

Required Skills and Experience

• Education: MSc in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Plant Sciences, or related field with 3+ years of relevant experience (BSc with significant experience considered).
• Project Management: Experience managing formulation projects.
• Proven ability to independently scale up microbial cultures and develop downstream processes.
• Strong preference given to candidates with experience working with extracts and metabolite profiling for identifying active components.
• Strong preference given to candidates with formulation, extract stabilisation, or fermentation-to-field experience.
• Demonstrated experience translating microbial strains into stable, field-appropriate formats (liquid, powder, or encapsulated).
• Familiarity with quality control and reproducibility best practices.
• Strong SOP writing and documentation skills.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills, capable of presenting complex findings to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in data analysis, experimental design, and interpretation.

Desirable

• PhD in Microbiology or a related discipline.
• Experience developing biopesticides or crop protection products.
• Experience working with Bacillus species, entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), or microbial biocontrol agents in an agri-biotech or biostimulant setting.
• Practical experience working with plants in laboratory, greenhouse, or field conditions.
• Hands-on experience working with insects and other crop pests.

Why BugBiome?

• Culture: Hands on start-up environment with a diverse, driven team.
• Facilities: Greenhouse facilities and labs within Norwich Research Park.
• Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday (+bank holidays), flexible hours, pension, share options, and monthly team socials.

Diversity Statement

BugBiome is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment process. Let us know if you have any special requirements.

Location: Norwich Research Park, UK (NR4 7UG). Must have UK work authorization; unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.

Application Process

To apply, please email the following documents to with the subject line: "Application for Formulation Microbiologist Role"

• Cover Letter: Summarise your suitability for the role and explain why you're excited to join BugBiome.
• CV: A maximum of 2 pages outlining your relevant experience and education.
• Project Summary: A 1-page document describing a microbial formulation project you've led or contributed to. Include the project goal, approach taken (e.g. extract, spore, encapsulated product), and key outcomes or lessons learned.