Research Technician

About us

Vow is a food company - a very different one. We’re creating real meat products from animal cells instead of the animal itself.

We’re bringing together cutting edge innovations in science, engineering, culinary and design to make sustainable food that’s both irresistible and available to billions of people worldwide.

The role

We are looking for a Research Technician to join our R&D team at Vow. This is an exciting opportunity to help Vow tackle some of the largest issues currently facing the cultured meat industry.

Making sustainable, abundant and irresistible food requires the brain power of a diverse group of people. In this role you will have the opportunity to work alongside incredible scientists, engineers, operators, and designers who are relentlessly passionate about food and creating a better future for our planet.

This role is predominantly lab based with end to end ownership over experiments that contribute to Vow’s larger R&D goals.

This opportunity is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their careers, recent graduates, or those possessing a Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques. It may also suit those with some prior experience as a laboratory technician. The role offers an exceptional chance to learn and implement cutting-edge techniques in cell biology and cultured meat. We are on the lookou for someone who is meticulous in their approach, excels in attention to detail, and is committed to generating high-quality data that supports our mission.

The experience you bring

• A Bachelor's degree with Honours, Bachelor's degree or Cert IV in Laboratory Techniques
• ~1 year of relevant hands-on lab experience in the fields specified below. This can have been gained through internships, an Honours year or work experience:

• Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Histology, Regenerative Medicine, Cellular Metabolism, Physiology, and related areas.

• Proficiency in standard laboratory practices and equipment such as aseptic techniques, cell culture, and general lab skills (e.g., weighing, pipetting, sampling).
• A foundational understanding of cell biology and metabolism
• Ability to work within a fast paced collaborative environment
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, experience in cell based assays, molecular biology techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis and other cell biology associated techniques are ideal but not a must.

A ‘hacker mentality’, or a non-traditional pathway into science is a big plus for us. We are looking for candidates who can work autonomously and always feel empowered to find better ways to do things.

You will

• Prepare media, reagents, and equipment setups to ensure seamless experimental procedures for you and the team
• Maintain comprehensive, timely, and accurate records of experimental methodologies and outcomes using our LIMS software platforms
• Routinely manage both suspension and adherent cell cultures while keeping contaminations to a minimum
• Plan, review and execute experiments, and interpret and share this data to your wider team
• Be involved with basic experimental troubleshooting
• General lab upkeep, cleaning and maintenance tasks as required
• Work closely with the larger R&D team at Vow to ensure that your research is aligned with the broader research direction and mission

What success looks like

• In your first month you will have successfully integrated yourself into one of Vow’s R&D Teams. By the end of the first month you will have learnt the technical skills and are actively executing experiments end to end.
• After 3 months you will have independently completed numerous experiments, presented this data and contributed to discussions on the impact of this work with respect to broader R&D team goals.
• By the end of your first year at Vow you will have made significant contributions to help your program succeed

Who we are and why join:

• We are building a diverse, mission-led dream team of “Vowzers.” Our mission is to make food products for everyone. To do that well we need a workforce that’s representative of the people we serve. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view - so we’re building a culture to match. Be yourself and come as you are.
• Work on cutting-edge technology. We’re bringing together cutting-edge innovations in science, engineering, and food, to recreate the world’s most tantalising and unique culinary experiences. All without compromising on ethics or our planet along the way. Since our inception in 2019, we have held the title of being the first startup to cultivate meat from the cells of an undomesticated animal, and have served up our exotic meats ranging from kangaroo dumplings to alpaca sliders in tastings with world-renowned chefs.
• Work with and learn from the best. Our team includes some of the world’s top scientists, innovators, operators, and creatives with decades of industry experience. Despite our experiences though, we all strive to build, break, learn, and repeat. We see the impossible as temporary and strive to learn and support our company and fellow Vowzers' growth as much as possible.
• We’re fully funded and ready to go. We are a growing Aussie biotech start-up backed by Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Grok Ventures, Tenacious Ventures, P7 Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and PeakBridge VC.

Vow perks and benefits:

• Everyone is an owner. In addition to competitive base salaries, each and every ‘Vowzer’ owns equity in the company so we can all benefit from our hard work and future success.
• Generous paid parental leave. We offer 8 weeks of paid caregiver leave and an additional 8 weeks paid leave for the birth giver.
• Generous relocation budget & support. Support for interstate or overseas team members and their families (including pets!)
• Flexible working hours and location. We value work-life balance. While we’re mostly back in the office, you’re free to choose the best way for you to work.
• Unlimited personal leave. At Vow we recognise that sometimes you need time off to recuperate, look after your mental health, or simply deal with an emergency. We put unlimited personal leave in place to empower you to truly bring your best self to work every single day and you are always paid for days taken off as personal leave.
• Heaps of tasty samples from our culinary centre. Our fantastic "food inventors" on the Vow team are always cooking up new product prototypes, and all Vowzers are given the opportunity to taste, give feedback, and learn from their culinary prowess.
• An awesome converted warehouse “campus” in Alexandria. Complete with a glass-walled lab, manufacturing line, free snacks, a culinary centre, and professional-grade coffee machine in our cafe, as well as a DIY workshop for all hands-on projects.
• Human and dog friendly office! An inclusive community and culture, in a welcoming office, complete with friendly “Vowzer” dogs!
• A variety of social clubs. We encourage all our Vowzers to build the culture with us and share what you love by creating social clubs across the business. From book clubs to hiking groups, we’re always looking for ways to learn and engage with our team.