Research Officer – Seaweed

About BANYU

BANYU (PT Panen Laut Lestari) is a biotechnology-driven seaweed farming company working to transform how seaweed is cultivated and supplied. We develop high-quality seedlings and partner with coastal farmers to build regenerative seaweed farms that improve ocean health, strengthen coastal livelihoods, and create reliable supply chains.

Role Summary

This role is responsible for conducting hands-on laboratory research to advance seaweed seedling production capabilities, with a focus on strain development, reproductive biology, and protocol optimization. The Research Officer works closely with the senior researcher and production team, and is expected to grow into a key contributor to both internal knowledge development and external scientific outputs over time.

Full-time, on-site position located in Serpong, Indonesia (open to relocation across Indonesia).

Key Responsibilities

1. Conduct Research on Seaweed Seedling Production and Strain Development

• Design and execute laboratory experiments focused on spore germination, strain selection, and seedling viability.
• Test and compare different strains under varying culture conditions (light, temperature, salinity, nutrients).
• Document all experimental setups, observations, and outcomes in the lab notebook on the same day.
• Analyze experimental data and interpret results under guidance of senior researcher.
• Identify patterns or anomalies in data and flag to senior researcher for further investigation.

2. Develop, Refine, and Optimize Research Protocols

• Draft and iterate protocols for seaweed reproduction, purification, and culture storage.
• Conduct literature reviews to identify best practices and incorporate findings into protocol development.
• Contribute to writing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on experimental outcomes.
• Support validation of protocols before handover to production team.

3. Maintain Culture Conditions and Daily Monitoring

• Monitor and log culture parameters daily (light intensity, temperature, salinity, nutrient levels, contamination indicators).
• Prepare culture media, reagents, and equipment prior to each experiment run.
• Sterilize and maintain lab equipment, glassware, and culture vessels according to biosafety standards.
• Report any deviations in culture health or contamination immediately to senior researcher.

4. Record Keeping and Documentation

• Maintain accurate and complete lab notebooks and digital databases at all times.
• Ensure all research data is organized, traceable, and audit-ready.
• Contribute to internal research reports and progress updates — minimum one per month.
• Support preparation of scientific manuscripts, presentations, and materials for internal meetings or external conferences.

5. Knowledge Sharing and Cross-team Collaboration

• Stay updated with recent developments in marine biotechnology and algal research; share relevant literature summaries quarterly.
• Participate in cross-team knowledge sharing sessions to support transfer of validated findings to the production team.
• Contribute insights and data to support business decision-making by management.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor's Degree (S1) in any relevant field (Biotechnology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Marine Science or equivalent).
• Proven experience in conducting research related to seaweed seed development, preferably with publications in reputable journals.
• Strong data management skills – ability to collect, organize, and interpret data from multiple sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting research findings, collaborating with colleagues, and writing grant proposals.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a brief cover letter to careers@banyu.farm with the subject line "Research Officer – [Your Name]".

More information: LinkedIn