Scientist III / Senior Scientist – Microbial Ecology

About Pivot Bio: Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of microbiology, genomics, crop nutrition and agriculture, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in fertilizer technology. Our first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes, modern gene editing and application technologies to provide nitrogen to crops. We are dedicated to providing new solutions for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population. Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour. The Microbial Ecologist is an experienced scientific role responsible for advancing the understanding of microbial establishment, persistence, and functional activity in agricultural systems. This position applies leading-edge knowledge of microbial ecology, soil–plant–microbe interactions, and microbiome science to contribute to the development of company concepts, technologies, and biological product strategies. The role bridges laboratory discovery with field validation, generating ecological insights that guide product development, product optimization, and commercialization of biological solutions in crop production systems. Essential Functions Design and lead experiments evaluating microbial colonization, establishment, persistence, and ecological fitness across diverse agricultural environments. Develop statistically robust sampling strategies for soil, rhizosphere, and root-associated microbiomes to evaluate microbial establishment and product performance. Integrate laboratory-based mechanistic research with field validation trials to understand drivers of microbial performance and product efficacy. Oversee microbiome analyses including amplicon sequencing, qPCR, metagenomics, and strain tracking approaches. Interpret complex ecological and multi-omics datasets to inform product advancement decisions and technology development. Translate ecological findings into actionable recommendations that inform product development feedback loops and customer-facing best management practices. Identify knowledge gaps in microbial establishment and soil–plant–microbe interactions and propose innovative research strategies to address them. Contribute scientific expertise to pipeline strategy through ecological risk assessment, environmental performance evaluation, and establishment modeling. Competencies Knowledge & Application Applies advanced scientific knowledge and professional concepts in microbial ecology and soil–plant–microbe interactions to contribute to the development of company concepts, technologies, and research strategies. Maintains deep expertise in microbiome sequencing workflows, microbial establishment dynamics, and ecological analysis. Stays current with advances in microbial ecology, soil health, microbiome science, and agricultural biological technologies. Applies scientific expertise creatively to achieve research objectives and support product development initiatives. Complexity & Problem Solving Works on significant and unique scientific problems where analysis requires evaluation of complex biological systems and environmental variability. Designs experimental approaches that address complex interactions between microbial strains, host plants, soils, climate, and crop management practices. Integrates multiple data sources—including ecological, agronomic, and molecular datasets—to draw meaningful scientific conclusions. Exercises independent judgment in determining scientific objectives, research approaches, and experimental methods for critical assignments. Collaboration & Interaction Acts independently in determining scientific methods and procedures while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. Partners closely with field agronomists to ensure experimental design reflects agronomic realities and production environments. Collaborates with formulation, product application, and molecular teams to optimize microbial establishment and product performance. Communicates complex ecological concepts and datasets effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Supports cross-functional product development initiatives and contributes scientific insight to integrated product strategies. Collaborate cross-functionally with field research, formulation science, molecular biology, and regulatory teams. Work Environment Role involves a combination of laboratory, field, and office-based work. Field work may include outdoor agricultural environments under varying weather conditions including walking on uneven terrain for some distance. Travel Required: 20–30% (field trials and research sites) Required Education & Experience Scientist III - Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology, Soil Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Soil Science, or related fields with 4+ years of experience in academia or industry working with microbial ecology or soil microbiology in agricultural systems. Senior Scientist - Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology, Soil Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Soil Science, or related fields with 8+ years of experience in academia or industry working with microbial ecology or soil microbiology in agricultural systems. Experience designing and executing field-based ecological experiments. Proficiency with microbiome sequencing workflows and ecological data analysis tools (R, Python, or similar). Strong understanding of soil–plant–microbe interactions and microbial establishment processes. Demonstrated ability to integrate laboratory and field research to support applied product development. Must be authorized to work in the United States What We Offer: Competitive package in a disruptive startup Stock options Health/Dental/Vision insurance with employer-paid premiums Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability policies Employee Assistance Program with free referrals and discounts 401(k) plan, 3% Match Commuter benefits Annual Training & Development support Flexible vacation policy with a generous holiday schedule Exciting opportunity to work with a talented and fun team Hiring Compensation Range Scientist III - $121,600 – 152,000 Senior Scientist - $134,400 – 168,000 #LI-Onsite All remote positions and those not located in our Berkeley facility are paid based on National Benchmark data. Following employment, growth beyond the hiring range is possible based on performance. Hiring Compensation Range $121,600—$168,000 USD