Senior Scientist: Biometallurgy

About the role

Mintek is looking for a Senior Scientist to join its Bioprocessing Group in the Biometallurgy Division, based full-time in Randburg. The role provides technical scientific input and carries out research in bioleaching of precious and base metals, treatment of mine effluents and solid wastes, and molecular methods for monitoring bioprocess consortia. It is a permanent position with market-related remuneration.

Key responsibilities

• Act as chief investigator of projects, formulating research questions, designing experiments and evaluating solutions
• Establish specifications, improve workflows and introduce operating procedures at project level
• Prepare proposals under direct or limited supervision, including open call proposals
• Design, operate and oversee experimental work, ensuring compliance with procedures, quality control and continual improvement
• Collect and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, preparing analytical and descriptive narratives
• Plan and manage projects efficiently, coordinate with others and maintain equipment and supplies
• Ensure the project team follows SHEQ requirements and act as principal investigator for risk assessment
• Perform routine and complex scientific and engineering research and contribute to intellectual property development

Required profile

• Master's degree in biological sciences preceded by a BSc and BSc(Hons)
• 3 to 5 years of vocational experience after graduation in bioprocessing, biometallurgy or biotechnology
• Ideal: SACNASP registration

Required skills

• Substantial expertise in molecular biology methods for microbial cultivation and speciation of mixed cultures, with demonstrated methods development skills
• Understanding of bioprocesses, especially bioleaching
• Understanding of mine water and waste challenges, treatment and value recovery
• Ideal: experience with cloning, (q)PCR, ligation, DNA sequence analysis and other advanced molecular tools