Senior Scientist Microbiology

Senior Scientist – Microbiology (PhD level)Scientifique Senior en MicrobiologieAviwell – Toulouse, Occitanie, France (On-site)About the jobAviwell operates at the convergence of DIGITAL & LIFE SCIENCES. Our mission is to develop natural and sustainable solutions to improve animal health, contributing to food security for a growing global population, and to do so at a fraction of the cost. We are a deep-tech startup with our HQ in Toulouse, France, and sales offices in Boston, USA.Aviwell is seeking a highly motivated Mid-Senior-PhD-level microbiologist to join the Microbiology Department as a senior scientific contributor. This role is designed for a scientist operating at a postdoctoral-equivalent level in industry, supporting the lab lead in experimental strategy, scientific leadership, and execution of complex microbiology projects.A central component of this position is the development and execution of basic and mechanistic research aimed at identifying molecular mechanisms by which the microbiome controls host molecular phenotypes, notably through the immune and metabolic education of the host. The position includes significant autonomy and responsibility, including oversight of experiments.Summary of Job ResponsibilitiesContribute to the design, execution, and interpretation of microbiology and molecular biology experiments.Identify molecular mechanisms and modes of action by which microbial strains or communities influence host molecular phenotypes.Drive the development of innovative approaches to generate, characterize, and structure molecular and live bioproduct libraries.Lead and coordinate experiments related to strain performance, stability, and host interaction.Contribute to the design, troubleshooting, and prioritization of experiments in a fast-paced R&D environment.Apply expertise in gut microbial ecology and host–microbe interactions to the discovery of host–microbe mechanisms of action.Contribute to research related to the immune and metabolic education of the host; knowledge of immunology (innate immunity, mucosal systems, immune training) is a strong plus.Interact closely with the in silico platform to improve the digitalization, annotation, and biological interpretation of experimental datasets.Provide scientific guidance and mentoring to microbiology engineers, technicians, and interns.Ensure rigorous documentation of experimental procedures, results, and conclusions.Participate in data analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of results.Contribute to the preparation of reports, presentations, scientific summaries, and publications.Qualifications and ExperiencePhD in Microbiology or a related life-science discipline.Postdoctoral experience or equivalent industry experience preferred.Demonstrated ability to independently design, lead, and interpret experiments.Experience working with complex microbial communities and/or gut-associated microbes.Strong record of publications.Minimum Work RequirementsStrong experience in bacterial culturing and growth characterization.Solid background in molecular microbiology.Experience working under anaerobic conditions is highly desirable.Prior experience supervising or coordinating experimental work.Comfortable operating with a high level of autonomy and scientific responsibility.SkillsStrong knowledge of microbiological and microbiome analysis methods.Clear understanding of gut–host interactions; immunology knowledge is a strong plus.Excellent organizational and planning skills.Ability to lead experiments and contribute to scientific decision-making.High level of rigor, scientific curiosity, and critical thinking.Mastery of good laboratory practices (hygiene and safety).Ability to communicate effectively across interdisciplinary teams, including bioinformatics, biostatistics, and immunology.Experience with probiotics and/or in vivo models is an advantage.Fluency in English (lab meetings are held in English) and French.ContractThe position is available as a 1-year renewable CDD, with the possibility of transition to a CDI based on performance. The salary is competitive and dependent on experience. The expected start date is early February 2026.