Research Scientist - Microbiology

You will lead the biological development of our antimicrobial nanocarriers. You will have real ownership over this side of the platform from day one, shaping our biological strategy rather than executing on an established one. You investigate how bacteria interact with our nanocarriers. You bring broad knowledge of bacterial infections, antimicrobial therapies, the use of antibiotics against a range of pathogens, and you help guide which antibiotics and antimicrobial agents we prioritize for the platform.

Together with our chemists, you design experiments that establish new design rules for the nanocarriers. Based on microbiological data, you guide new nanocarrier designs, so that uptake, efficacy, and selectivity of our systems keep improving.

You are curious about the fundamental interaction between bacteria and nanomaterials, while also keeping an eye on translation toward new therapeutic applications. Within Gateway Bio, you work in a multidisciplinary team where chemistry, microbiology, and nanotechnology are closely intertwined.

At Gateway Bio, you'd be joining a lean, founder-led team building a novel antibiotic delivery platform to fight antimicrobial resistance.

Mark ter Heide, CEO & Co-founder: a background in venture capital, Mark leads strategy, partnerships, and fundraising, and brings an investor's eye to how the company builds and scales.

Jos Paulusse, CTO & Co-founder: the scientific inventor behind the platform, Jos is a former associate professor and leads the technology and R&D side, bringing deep academic expertise in polymer chemistry into a commercial setting.

• Investigate how bacteria interact with our nanocarriers, and unravel the mechanisms of action
• Design and run experiments with our chemistry team to establish new nanocarrier design rules
• Apply broad knowledge of antimicrobial therapies and antibiotic activity across pathogens to guide the platform's development
• Translate microbiological data into directions for new nanocarrier designs, improving uptake, efficacy, and selectivity
• Run MIC assays, mechanism of action studies, and time kill kinetics
• Perform basic toxicology testing
• Set up and run PK/PD studies

• You have a strong background in microbiology, with broad knowledge of bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies (PhD or 4+ years industry experience)
• You have hands on experience with MIC assays, mechanism of action studies, and time kill kinetics
• You are able to perform basic toxicology testing and set up PK/PD studies
• In silico expertise is a plus
• You are curious about the fundamental biology of bacteria and nanomaterials, but equally driven to translate that understanding into therapeutic impact
• You are comfortable building a function largely from scratch, and enjoy setting direction rather than following an established playbook
• You enjoy working in a multidisciplinary team, and collaborate closely with chemists to shape the platform's design

• A competitive salary, commensurate with your experience and aligned with the stage of a fast-growing biotech
• The opportunity to earn stock options over time, giving you a meaningful stake in the Gateway Bio’s success
• The chance to help build a platform from an early, foundational stage, with real influence over its scientific and technical direction
• Direct collaboration with our founding team, including direct work with our CTO
• A role based in Leiden*, at the heart of the Dutch life sciences ecosystem
• Room to grow scientifically and professionally as the company and team expand
• Ownership over your work, and real responsibility from day one
• The opportunity to see your research translated into technologies with real clinical impact.

*Leiden based, but first month will be Enschede based. Housing will be aligned during discussions.

Gateway Bio is only a few months old, so you'd be joining right at the ground floor. That means real ownership from day one, your work will directly shape the science and the company.

You'll be involved in setting up our new lab from scratch, from equipment and workflows to early experiments, giving you a rare chance to build infrastructure rather than just work within it. As we grow, you'll have the opportunity to grow with us, taking on more responsibility as the team and platform expand, and working closely with both founders across the science and business side.

How to apply:

• Browse to our website and click 'Careers'
• Click on your preferable position
• Click 'Apply for this role' and fill in the form

Website: www.gateway-bio.com