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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Algae Technician

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

The Algae Technician is responsible for day-to-day cultivation, monitoring, and processing of microalgae and macroalgae for production, research, and commercial applications (biofuels, nutraceuticals, feed, and environmental remediation). This role operates across laboratory, pilot, and outdoor pond/photobioreactor environments, executing standard operating procedures (SOPs), performing quality control testing, maintaining equipment, and supporting scale-up and troubleshooting activities. Successful candidates combine hands-on algal culture skills, lab discipline, attention to detail, and a safety-first mindset to ensure repeatable, high-quality biomass production.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Laboratory Technician (microbiology/biotech)
  • Aquaculture Technician or Hatchery Assistant
  • Field Technician (environmental monitoring, water quality)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Algae Technician / Lead Technician
  • Process Development Technician / Bioprocess Operator
  • Production Supervisor / Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Assurance / Quality Control Technician
  • Research Assistant (phycology, aquaculture, biotech)
  • Pilot Plant Operator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Maintain healthy algal cultures by performing routine inoculation, subculturing, strain transfers, and aseptic technique to preserve strain integrity and prevent contamination, documenting each step per SOP.
  • Operate and monitor closed photobioreactors (PBRs), open raceway ponds, and hybrid systems—adjusting light, temperature, CO2 dosing, mixing, and nutrient delivery to meet target growth rates and biomass composition goals.
  • Conduct daily and scheduled growth monitoring using tools such as hemocytometer cell counts, Coulter counter readings, optical density (OD/ABS) measurements, and chlorophyll fluorescence assays, and record data in batch logs or LIMS.
  • Manage nutrient formulation and dosing, prepare media and feed stock solutions, and execute fertilization schedules for different production stages while tracking consumption rates and optimizing feed efficiency.
  • Harvest biomass using mechanical and chemical methods (centrifugation, flocculation, filtration, dissolved air flotation), operate harvest equipment safely, and optimize harvest parameters to maximize yield and minimize cell damage.
  • Perform downstream processing tasks such as dewatering, drying (tray, flash, or spray drying), oil extraction support, and sample preparation for compositional analysis, ensuring product meets specification.
  • Carry out routine water quality and environmental parameter testing (pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity/salinity, temperature, turbidity, ammonia/nitrate/phosphate) and take corrective actions to maintain culture stability.
  • Implement and maintain strict sanitation and contamination-control protocols, perform surface and equipment cleaning, sterilization (autoclave/chemical), and maintain contamination logbooks.
  • Calibrate and perform preventative maintenance on lab and production equipment—pumps, sensors, probes (pH, DO), mixers, heaters, chillers, and aeration systems—documenting maintenance activities and flagging repair needs.
  • Prepare, label, and store algal feedstocks, reagents, and hazardous materials according to chemical safety guidelines, MSDS requirements, and company inventory systems.
  • Execute experimental and production protocols to support strain selection, productivity optimization, and scale-up efforts, capturing experimental design, variables, and results in lab notebooks and digital records.
  • Perform routine microscopy and imaging for cell morphology assessments, contamination checks, and documentation of culture health, and escalate unusual observations to R&D or lab management.
  • Follow GMP, GLP, or regulatory compliance requirements where applicable—keeping complete, auditable records, batch sheets, and quality control documentation for production runs.
  • Support quality control by taking representative samples, running proximate and targeted assays (moisture, ash, lipid, protein, pigments), and interpreting results in collaboration with QA/QC staff to determine product disposition.
  • Troubleshoot culture crashes, contamination events, or system failures by isolating affected lines, performing root cause analysis, and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) with cross-functional teams.
  • Assist in scale-up activities—from benchtop to pilot to production—by executing pilot runs, documenting scale-dependent variables, and recommending process control changes to senior process engineers.
  • Operate small industrial equipment and vehicles (e.g., forklifts, utility vehicles) as needed for material handling and pond maintenance, following safety and operator certification requirements.
  • Manage and replenish consumables and spare parts inventory for production and lab equipment, placing orders and coordinating with procurement to minimize downtime.
  • Participate in environmental monitoring and compliance tasks including waste handling, effluent management, and reporting to ensure adherence to environmental permits and company sustainability goals.
  • Train and mentor junior technicians and interns on safe lab and production practices, SOP execution, data entry, and basic algae cultivation methods.
  • Collaborate closely with R&D, process development, QA/QC, and operations teams to translate research outcomes into robust, repeatable production processes and support continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Execute emergency response procedures for spills, culture upsets, and equipment failures, and maintain certifications for workplace safety training (e.g., PPE, chemical handling, confined-space awareness) as required.
  • Maintain accurate digital and physical records of production parameters, experimental data, maintenance logs, and SOP changes to support traceability, reproducibility, and regulatory audits.

Secondary Functions

  • Support sample preparation, labeling, tracking, and shipping for external analytical testing and customer trials.
  • Assist in developing and updating SOPs, batch records, and training materials based on process improvements and lessons learned.
  • Perform basic statistical analysis of production and QC data and create summary reports for operations and R&D review.
  • Contribute to process improvement projects—identifying bottlenecks, suggesting equipment or workflow changes, and piloting optimizations under supervision.
  • Help maintain facility cleanliness, biosafety signage, and safety equipment (eyewash, showers, spill kits) and report hazards promptly.
  • Participate in cross-functional meetings to communicate production status, experimental outcomes, and resource needs to wider teams.
  • Support regulatory documentation and record requests during internal or external audits by organizing batch records and test results.
  • Provide on-call support for production issues as scheduled and maintain clear handover documentation for shift changes.
  • Manage small-scale ordering of reagents, media components, and lab consumables and assist with vendor interactions for specialty supplies.
  • Aid in outreach and customer support activities such as facility tours, demonstration runs, and sample preparations for potential clients.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Algae culture maintenance and strain handling (axenic and non-axenic cultures) with strong aseptic technique to prevent contamination.
  • Photobioreactor (PBR) and open-pond operation, including control of light regimes, mixing, CO2 delivery, and temperature regulation.
  • Biomass harvesting methods: centrifugation, flocculation, filtration, dissolved air flotation, and dewatering techniques.
  • Analytical techniques: microscopic cell counts (hemocytometer), Coulter counter operation, spectrophotometry (OD/ABS), chlorophyll fluorometry.
  • Water chemistry and nutrient management: pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity/salinity, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate testing and corrective dosing.
  • Downstream processing basics: drying, extraction support (lipid extraction basics), sample prep for compositional analysis.
  • Laboratory instrumentation operation and troubleshooting (pumps, probes, sensors, autoclave, balances, mixers).
  • Quality control and QA documentation: batch records, SOP execution, sample traceability, GLP/GMP awareness.
  • Basic mechanical skills: pump and piping troubleshooting, tubing changes, valve operation, and preventative maintenance routines.
  • Data logging and electronic record keeping: experience with LIMS, Excel, Google Sheets, and digital batch logging tools.
  • Safety and compliance knowledge: hazardous materials handling, waste disposal, PPE usage, and biosafety protocols.
  • Basic statistics and data interpretation for growth curves, productivity calculations, and process stability assessment.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and disciplined recordkeeping for lab and production environments.
  • Problem-solving mindset with ability to troubleshoot biology + equipment interactions and escalate appropriately.
  • Effective verbal and written communication to document experiments, report issues, and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Time management and ability to prioritize competing tasks in a production environment.
  • Adaptability and willingness to work outdoors and in variable environmental conditions (ponds, greenhouse, pilot plant).
  • Team player who can train and mentor junior staff while taking direction from R&D or operations leads.
  • Continuous improvement orientation—curious, methodical, and data-driven.
  • Commitment to safety culture and adherence to regulatory and company protocols.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED with demonstrated hands-on lab or aquaculture experience; vocational certificates in biotechnology or aquaculture will be considered.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate or Bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, phycology, marine biology, aquaculture, biotechnology, or related life sciences.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Phycology and algal biology
  • Microbiology
  • Aquaculture and fisheries science
  • Marine biology
  • Biotechnology / Bioprocessing
  • Chemical or environmental engineering (pilot plant operations)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–4 years of direct algae culture or related lab/aquaculture experience for junior roles; 3–6+ years for senior/lead roles.

Preferred: 2–4 years of hands-on experience cultivating microalgae or macroalgae in laboratory and pilot/production settings, demonstrated operation of photobioreactors or raceway ponds, experience with harvesting and downstream processing, and familiarity with QA/QC documentation and SOP-driven environments.

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