Senior Scientist at Mintek

About the position

Introduction
Mintek has an exciting career opportunity for a Senior Scientist. The successful candidate will be based full-time in the Bioprocessing Group in the Biometallurgy Division and will be expected to provide technical scientific inputs to and perform research in the areas of: • Bioleaching of precious and base metal resources • Treatment of mine effluents and solid wastes • Molecular methods for monitoring of bioprocess consortia
Duties & Responsibilities

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• He/she is aware of trends in the relevant field, and is able to formulate ideas relating to technical projects, frame and develop research questions, design experiments, identify problems, and evaluate and implement solutions.
• Play a leading role in the execution of work as a chief investigator of projects, within the division/group.
• Operational: Establish specifications, improve workflows, and introduce operating procedures - at the project level.

• Commercial

• Prepare proposals under direct/limited supervision to Client satisfaction.

• Design, operate and oversee discipline specific experimental work as required by Proposals and ensure that procedures are complied with, and quality control and continual improvement are applied.

• Collect and interpret data at a quantitative and qualitative level using discipline specific standard methodologies and procedures. Including the preparation of analytical and descriptive narratives. Ensure that the interpretation is based on sound scientific / engineering theory.

• Plan and manage projects to ensure efficient use of time, equipment and facilities, including coordinating with others.

• Ensure proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies, promote continual improvement in the workplace, adhere to and enforce all SHEQ requirements.

• Ensure that the project team understands and adheres to all SHEQ requirements

• As a Principal Investigator, responsible for the assessment and management of all risks at a project level.

• Take responsible for specific equipment / facilities related to projects.

• Research and Development

• Prepare proposals under direct/limited supervision, including Open Call proposals.

• Perform routine scientific and engineering research using standard methods, procedures and equipment. Act as a principal investigator on such projects.

• Perform complex scientific and engineering research under supervision.

• Contributor to IP development.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Min: MSc preceded by BSc and BSc(Hons) in biological sciences or relevant.

• At least 3 - 5 years vocational experience following first graduation, in Bioprocessing, Biometallurgy, Biotechnology or relevant.

• Substantial expertise in molecular biology methods for microbial cultivation and speciation of mixed cultures with demonstrable skills in methods development

• Exposure to, and an understanding of bioprocesses, especially bioleaching.

• Exposure to and an understanding of, mine water and waste challenges, treatment and value recovery.

• Ideal: experience with cloning, (q)PCR, ligation, DNA sequence analysis and other advanced molecular tools

Ideal: SACNASP registered