Formulation Chemist (gn) @ Sustainable Biocompounds Venture, Bonn (Rheinbach)

About Mycolever

At Mycolever, we are harnessing the power of fungi to revolutionize the bioeconomy. Our mission is to unlock the biodiversity of fungi to produce sustainable biocompounds, starting with our innovative biosurfactant platform. By replacing petrochemical surfactants with eco-friendly alternatives, we aim to reshape industries and minimize environmental impact.

We are an early-stage startup driven by the passion to create a greener future—one formulation at a time. Join us in pushing the boundaries of science and sustainability as we expand our product applications in personal care and beyond.

Your Role

We are looking for a Formulation Scientist with a passion for innovation to join our team. You will work on formulating personal care products with a focus on skin, hair, and body care using our unique microbial biosurfactants. As a key member of our growing team, you will develop, optimize, and scale formulations that demonstrate the potential of our bio-based ingredients.

What success looks like in the first months:

• You create and optimize formulations for personal and home care products, delivering high-quality samples for testing, demos, and customer projects.

• You collaborate closely with our R&D team, contributing to the development of novel fungal active and functional bioingredients and exploring relevant product categories.

• You support us in proving key claims through setting up testing strategies e.g. for our active bioingredients

• You ensure compliance with regulations and certifications (ECHA, INCI, cosmetics regulations, etc.) while managing documentation for product safety as well as applications for certifications (Ecocert, COSMOS).

• You actively contribute to scaling formulations from lab to production, troubleshooting and refining processes as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and test formulations for personal care products, focusing on sustainability and innovation.

• Support customer projects by providing formulation expertise and ensuring product quality.

• Manage regulatory compliance and testing strategies, maintaining safety and certification documentation.

• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to scale up production while ensuring consistent quality control.

• Explore potential applications of biosurfactants in adjacent industries such as home care products.

What you need to succeed:

• A Master’s degree in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or a related field.

• Experience in formulation, ideally within the personal care or cosmetic industry, with expertise in surfactants or biosurfactants.

• Strong problem-solving skills and a creative mindset for troubleshooting formulation challenges.

• Familiarity with cosmetic regulations and a passion for working with natural, sustainable ingredients.

• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate across teams.

What we offer

• A unique opportunity to be part of an entrepreneurial journey that’s shaping the future of sustainable biocompounds.

• A collaborative and innovative environment where your contributions make a real impact.

• Growth opportunities in a dynamic startup committed to your professional development.

What we value

• Customer obsession: We care deeply about our customers and are committed to meeting their needs with high-quality, sustainable products.

• Passion for invention: We constantly push boundaries, driven by a desire to improve and innovate.

• Operational excellence: We maintain high standards across our products and processes, striving for continuous improvement.

• Long-term thinking: We take ownership of our work, making decisions that benefit both the company and the planet in the long run.