Scientist – Biocontrol & Biological Crop Protection

About UsAbsolute is a bioscience company founded with the vision of creating a shared future where both people and the planet thrive together. By harnessing the power of nature, science, and exponential innovation, Absolute is building a sustainable and prosperous future.Its Bio division is a generation-defining platform operating across Agriculture, Human Health, and Sustainable Materials, powered by breakthrough research from Xenesis — a team of 150+ scientists working across disciplines.Backed by Sequoia, Tiger Global, and Alpha Wave, Absolute’s investors include Nadir Godrej (MD, Godrej Industries), Kamal Aggarwal (Promoter, Haldiram), and Kunal Shah (Founder, CRED).About INERA (An Absolute Company)INERA is Absolute’s agricultural biologicals platform, focused on transforming farming through regenerative, science-led solutions.At INERA, we develop next-generation bio-inputs that work in harmony with natural soil systems to improve productivity, restore soil health, and enable sustainable agriculture at scale. As a core part of Absolute’s Bio platform, INERA represents our commitment to building the future of agriculture through innovation and nature-led science.The RoleWe are seeking a highly motivated Scientists to contribute to our crop improvement and protection initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in formulation development for bioAg inputs and a strong understanding of microbial populations, plant metabolites, and their applications in agriculture.Key responsibilities include:Formulation and Active Ingredient Development: Design and develop novel formulations for crop improvement and protection, including biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, with a focus on efficacy and application in agricultural practices. Identify and evaluate novel active ingredients, including peptides, metabolites, and signaling molecules, for applications in pesticides, nematicides, fungicides, and herbicides.Production, Scale-Up, and Soil Microbiome Engineering: Develop scalable production methods for active ingredients and their formulations while ensuring compliance with industry standards. Engage in soil microbiome engineering to enhance crop productivity, sustainability, and the overall effectiveness of agricultural solutions.Advanced Molecular Research and Process Improvement: Perform advanced molecular biology techniques such as recombinant cloning, genome editing, and recombinant knockouts in plants and microbes. Drive process improvements to enhance productivity and efficiency within the research and development team while maintaining detailed experimental records and data.SOP Compliance, Equipment Maintenance, and Stakeholder Communication: Prepare and execute established methods and SOPs to ensure consistent and high-quality results. Maintain all equipment and ensure that data and records are kept in accordance with specifications, while delivering high-quality results in a timely manner and effectively communicating findings and progress with stakeholders.Why would you love this role?Opportunity to work with the best research minds across the worldBe an architect with strong business outcome focus. Collaboration across the board - with diverse teams from through ideation, formulation and deployment.Immense opportunities for growth.Be a part of the team that is focused on creating a strong impact and make this world a “better” place.What we are looking for:A desire and passion to make the world a "better" place.Ph.D. in Plant biology, crop science, agriculture biotechnology, Agri-input science, molecular biology, microbiology, biotechnology, synthetic biology or related fields.1+ year(s) of postdoctoral experience in academic, Agri-biotech companies, or biotechnology industries for Agri-input formulations.Experience in advanced technologies like RNAi and other recombinant technologies for agriculture science.Experience in developing novel bio-based formulations for crop improvement and crop protection.Experience in working with multiple active ingredients for agri-input bio-formulations.A strong grasp of fundamental plant molecular biology techniques is essential.Demonstrated ability to work with highly skilled teams in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and technical environment.Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of conveying technical information in a clear and thorough manner.Comfortable delivering against challenging commitments.Confident, execution focused, team oriented, with an ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment.