Senior Microbiologist — Antimicrobial Resistance

At Spore.Bio, we're reinventing how microbiology is done in industrial and clinical settings. After months spent inside factories and labs, we saw firsthand how slow and constrained traditional microbiological workflows still are. So we built a new paradigm using advanced optics and deep learning to deliver results in seconds instead of days.

Today, we're taking this mission a step further.

We created Spore.Labs, our fundamental research division dedicated to one of the biggest global health challenges starting with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With the support of the AI for Science Initiative, Spore.Labs is launching an open-source program to reduce AMR diagnostic time from days to minutes enabling rapid identification of resistance genes and promoting targeted, responsible antibiotic use.

And now, we're entering the next chapter.

We're building a team of exceptional researchers, engineers, and scientists who will bring this project out of stealth mode and push the boundaries of biophotonics, genomics, and AI. If you want to work at the frontier of AMR research, help shape open scientific infrastructure, and contribute to a global effort backed by Google, we'd love to meet you.

As the Microbiology Expert (Permanent Research Scientist / Postdoctoral-level CDI), you will play a key role in bridging experimental microbiology with data-driven AI and photonic analysis. Your biological insights will guide model development, validation, and interpretation within this highly collaborative environment.

• Design, plan, and execute classical microbiology experiments (cultures, antibiograms, growth kinetics, tolerance and persistence assays).

• Investigate and characterize mechanisms of bacterial resistance, persistence, and tolerance at the molecular level.

• Analyze and interpret OMICs datasets (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) related to antimicrobial resistance phenotypes.

• Collaborate closely with biophotonics and AI experts to correlate optical signatures and OMICs features with microbial behavior.

• Contribute to the scientific and technical roadmap, including experimental protocols, validation datasets, and model interpretability.

• Participate in scientific publications, patent writing, and collaborative dissemination of project results.

• Maintain high laboratory standards and foster innovation at the intersection of biology and computational technologies.

Required qualifications/ experience :

We value curiosity, initiative, and a growth mindset: not every box needs to be ticked to apply.

• PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Infectious Diseases, or related field.

• Proven academic expertise (peer-reviewed publications) in antimicrobial resistance, persistence, and/or tolerance.

• Hands-on experience in classical microbiology techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

• Experience in OMICs data analysis, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, combined with expertise in live-cell imaging techniques such as time-lapse and single-cell microscopy.

• Proven experience working with clinical samples, from sourcing to analysis.

• Strong motivation to work in a multidisciplinary DeepTech environment at the interface of biology, optics, and AI.

Preferred:

• Experience collaborating with computational biologists, data scientists, or AI researchers.

• Basic knowledge of bioinformatics tools (R, Python, or equivalent).

• Experience with bacterial stress response models or host-pathogen interactions.

• Fluency in English (French is a plus, but not mandatory).

• Work in an innovative and rapidly growing startup.

• Participate in exciting and impactful projects.

• Evolve in a collaborative and stimulating work environment.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous training.

We believe that flexibility and trust are important parts of a company. Our work environment reflects this thanks to:

• Flexible remote: If you live in Paris, you can work from our office or from your place with no constraints.

On top of that, we offer many perks such as:

• a budget for remote work equipment

• a Gymlib subscription for you to stay in shape wherever you are

• premium health insurance (Alan in France)

• a Swile card for your meals, if you are based in France

• frequent team events and in-person gatherings every quarter

• 30-min call with the Hiring Manager

• 45-min personality interview with two team members

• A 1 hour technical case study followed by a debrief with team members

• 1 hour Founders interview

• Reference calls

You might also be invited to meet other team members at the office for a lab visit and a coffee

This is a unique opportunity for someone who thrives on curiosity and has a genuine passion for technology. If you enjoy taking on challenges and solving complex problems, this role will provide the perfect environment for growth and impact. The ideal candidate is someone who is self-driven, eager to learn, and excited to contribute to shaping the future of microbiology monitoring. Join our innovative and dynamic team, and let's make a difference together We look forward to meeting you