Microbiome Manager

Job Description The Health & Wellness division is part of ADM’s global Nutrition business, encompassing both Human & Animal Nutrition and Health & Wellness activities across human, pet, and animal markets. ADM’s Global Health & Wellness R&D organization operates through six strategic research hubs located in North America, Spain, Ireland, England, Switzerland, and China, driving the development of innovative, science-based solutions that support health and well-being worldwide.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Director of the Microbiome Health & Wellness R&D Center and will be based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Role As Microbiome Manager, you will play a key role in advancing ADM’s microbiome research programs, with a strong emphasis on applied microbiology, microbial strain management, and preclinical microbiome models. In this hands-on R&D position, you will contribute to the management and characterization of microbial collections, support the development of science-driven wellness ingredients, and oversee daily laboratory activities to ensure scientific excellence and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities Microbial Collection & Biobank Management

• Manage and further develop ADM’s microbial biobank, including strain registration, documentation, cryopreservation, long-term preservation, quality control, and internal strain transfers.
• Contribute to the technical evaluation and integration of external microbial collections, including strain verification and associated documentation.

Microbiology Research & Strain Characterization

• Isolate, culture, identify, and characterize microorganisms from a wide range of biological and environmental samples.
• Perform and oversee laboratory activities related to microbial cultivation, purification, strain maintenance, growth profiling, stability assessment, and phenotypic characterization.
• Support the development and application of in vitro digestion, fermentation, and microbiome models for animal health and nutrition programs.

Experimental Execution & Laboratory Operations

• Design, execute, document, and communicate laboratory experiments in accordance with project objectives, timelines, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Support BSL-2 laboratory operations, including SOP implementation, equipment maintenance, contamination control, adherence to good microbiological practices, and compliance with all safety requirements.
• Foster a strong laboratory safety culture where the ultimate goal is zero accidents.

Team Coordination & Collaboration

• Coordinate and support laboratory technicians by helping prioritize activities, monitoring progress, and promoting an efficient, collaborative, and high-performing working environment.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional R&D teams to contribute to microbiome innovation initiatives and ingredient development programs.

**Your Profile

Education**

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Food Microbiology, Applied Microbiology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience
• 5–8 years of R&D experience in microbiology, microbial strain characterization, microbial collections, fermentation, probiotics, biobanking, or related applied microbiology fields.
• Proven hands-on expertise in microbial isolation, cultivation, purification, identification, preservation, and phenotypic characterization.
• Experience working with bacterial strains, microbial consortia, probiotics, animal microbiome samples, or environmental isolates.
• Practical knowledge of strain storage, cryopreservation, documentation systems, and biobank or culture collection management is highly desirable.
• Experience operating within a BSL-2 laboratory environment, with a solid understanding of laboratory safety, contamination control, and good microbiological practices.
• Familiarity with in vitro digestion, fermentation, and gut mic