Research Working Student, Microbiology

Role summary:

At Differential Bio, we combine data, AI, and lab automation to optimize media and bioprocesses - building the intelligence engine for the bioeconomy’s future. We turn wet-lab experiments into model-ready datasets that train our machine-learning models, making microbial production faster, cheaper, and more predictable for customers in probiotics, food, and specialty chemicals.

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented working student (part-time, ~15–20 h/week, ideally 6+ months) to support our R&D activities in microbiology and robot-driven high-throughput screening in our automated lab and to help deliver customer projects in various domains, ranging from probiotics to specialty chemicals.

You’ll join a small, driven team, including the founders, at an early and defining stage of a growing biotech company. Upon good performance, this working student position offers direct opportunities to join a pioneering team at the forefront of digital biology and biotechnology.

You’ll work directly with our Senior Scientists and the wider microbiology team, who will mentor you on experimental execution, documentation standards, and reproducibility - and you’ll see first-hand how your data closes the loop with our data science and AI team .

Key responsibilities:

• Assist in preparation of media, reagents, and buffers under sterile conditions
• Support microbial cultivation , including sampling, plating, and incubation
• Perform basic microbiological assays and support data collection and documentation
• Support media and cultivation experiments, including the setup of plate-based design-of-experiment (DoE) runs
• Support assay development and validation runs
• Capture and document data in structured, model-ready templates that feed AI/ML model training and downstream analysis by our data science team
• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and our lab automation platform (e.g., liquid-handling robots, plate readers, automated incubators) - including setting up, running, and monitoring automated plate-based workflows
• Assist in inventory management, cleaning, and general lab organization
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and maintain safety standards

Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Microbiology, Bioprocess Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical or Bioprocess Engineering, or related fields
• Basic understanding of aseptic techniques and microbiological lab practices
• Curiosity, reliability, and willingness to learn in a hands-on environment
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Strong commitment to lab work; must be available for on-site work in Freising at TUM FACIT / TUM Venture Lab FAB or our lab space at MAxL, IZB Planegg-Martinsried
• Available for 6+ months at ~15–20 h/week (working student), starting October 2026

Nice-to-have:

• Prior lab internship, working-student role, or thesis work in microbiology, fermentation, or bioprocessing
• First exposure to lab automation, liquid-handling robots, or high-throughput screening - no prior experience required; we will train you
• Basic Python or R skills, or general comfort working with structured data and spreadsheets
• German is helpful for day-to-day lab and campus life, but not required - our working language is English

Benefits:

• Get on board early : Become an early part of a visionary team that is leveraging the power of digital biology to unlock the $4tn bioeconomy
• Competitive compensation through salary; we are looking to build a small but mighty team and think about compensation along those lines
• Leadership opportunity : Work closely with visionary founders, with the potential to grow into a leadership role with significant responsibility
• Modern, highly automated laboratory facilities - including liquid-handling robots and high-throughput screening systems - at TUM FACIT / TUM Venture Lab FAB (Food/Agro/Biotech) in Freising and our lab space at MAxL, BioM's start-up incubator at the IZB in Planegg-Martinsried
• eGym WellPass membership

How to apply:

Sound like you? Send us your CV and a few lines on what draws you to hands-on microbiology and high-throughput R&D - we read every application.

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