Junior Researcher (Early Discovery) | Biological Crop Protection | High-throughput Screening (HTP)
Mycoverse is building next-generation biological crop protection to help agriculture transition away from synthetic chemical pesticides - without sacrificing yield. Our discovery engine combines high-throughput functional fungal screening with metabolomics and fit-for-purpose scalable production, so we can identify effective and safe biofungicides faster.
This is a hands-on role at the heart of early discovery: together with the team you’ll help run and evolve the screening platform that feeds Mycoverse’s product pipeline - turning promising biology into impactful and data-backed solutions.
The mission
Crop pathogens and pests drive major losses (often cited around ~20% annually across the five biggest crops), and without effective protection tools, losses can climb dramatically.
Mycoverse exists to deliver biological alternatives that protect yields while reducing agriculture’s dependence on chemical fungicides - and the climate impact that follows.
What you will own
High-throughput bioassays & screening execution
- Develop, run, and continuously improve HTP biofungicide assays (primarily in vitro)
- Execute screening campaigns that identify the next biofungicide candidates for our growing pipeline
- Ensure assays are robust, reproducible, and decision-ready (controls, QC, plate layouts, repeat runs)
Automation & robotics (Tecan and beyond)
- Program and execute automated workflows (e.g., liquid handling, assay setup, sample prep)
- Troubleshoot and optimize robotic methods for speed, reliability, and data quality
- Help expand the platform’s capability - new assays, new formats, better throughput
Data, analysis, and “truth in the results”
- Turn raw outputs into structured datasets and clear readouts
- Spot patterns, outliers, drift, and failure modes early - and fix the root cause
- Ideally contribute code (Python/R) for analysis, visualization, and workflow automation
Discovery platform ownership (in a startup reality)
- Maintain key lab equipment and assay reagents with a “keep it running” mindset
- Write and improve SOPs, protocols, and documentation as we scale the platform
- Work closely with the team to support product development with targeted in vitro assays (e.g., confirming activity, comparing candidates)
What we’re looking for
- Hands-on bioassay experience, ideally relevant to biofungicides / biocontrol
- Automation/robotics exposure (Tecan is a strong plus); you enjoy making workflows work
- Filamentous fungi experience (cultivation, handling, assay contexts, or related lab work)
- Tech- and data-savvy: comfortable working with datasets, not just lab notebooks
- Code curiosity (ideally Python and/or R) - you don’t need to be a software engineer, but you like building tools that save time and improve quality
- Fast learner: you pick up new techniques quickly and actually enjoy the learning curve
- Self-driven startup mindset: you take ownership, move things forward, and adapt when priorities shift
- Strong collaboration and communication - you can translate messy lab reality into clear team decisions
(Level/education can be flexible depending on fit - what matters most is hands-on capability, learning speed, and ownership.)
Why this role stands out
- You’ll sit at the source of the pipeline: what you build and run directly shapes what Mycoverse develops next
- Real platform ownership in an early-stage company - your improvements stick, scale, and compound
- Mission with measurable impact: enabling biological crop protection that supports yield resilience while reducing reliance on chemical fungicides
- A team and context rooted in Denmark’s deep tech ecosystem around DTU/Bioengineering
Location & employment
- Copenhagen area / Kongens Lyngby (on-site)
- Full-time
Process / How to apply
Send your CV – we don’t need a cover letter.
Curious to meet the Mycoverse founders?
Listen to the founders Niels and Svend share their startup story and mission in this podcast episode “How Mycoverse Is Transforming Agriculture”
https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/e55-startupstory-how-mycoverse-is-transforming-agriculture/id1669191567?i=1000702990703
