Lead – Laboratory

Company Description

Carbon Circle builds, owns and operates Renewable Natural Gas (also known as CBG) projects in India. These facilities convert organic matter in agricultural residues, industrial wastes, energy crops into biogas which is then upgraded to RNG.

RNG is a green alternative for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG), and hence decarbonizes transportation and heating (industrial, domestic) applications. Organic manure is a byproduct from our facilities.

Our first plant is operational in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh since August 2024. Our 2nd and 3rd projects are currently under development in Bareilly and Shahjahanpur.

About the Founder

Guru Inder has a history of picking up ideas early and fast rollouts eg. Rooftop Solar, Open Access, EV. He was the Founder & ex - COO of Amplus Solar, which is one of the largest C&I renewable energy platforms in Asia. After exiting Amplus Solar to Petronas, an oil & gas major, Guru Inder founded Carbon Circle in 2022.

The current opening is for Carbon Circle's RNG plant in Richha (Baheri), District Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Microbiologist to manage the biological and analytical operations at our Compressed Biogas (CBG) facility. The role is critical to ensuring stable digester performance, high methane yield, and compliance with process and product quality standards.

Qualifications

- Master's in Microbiology / Biotechnology / Biochemistry / Environmental Science.
- 5-7 years of experience in anaerobic digestion, wastewater treatment, distilleries, pharma, food/agri-biotech industries.
- Strong knowledge of anaerobic microbial ecology, process monitoring parameters, and troubleshooting.
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment (pH meter, titrators, incubators).
- Familiarity with VOA/TIC, NH₄-N, alkalinity, and trace element dosing.

Key Responsibilities

1. Process Monitoring & Analysis

- Conduct routine analysis of digester samples: pH, VOA/TIC, NH₄-N, alkalinity, TKN, COD, DM/oDM, and VFA profiling.
- Monitor gas composition (CH₄, CO₂, H₂S, O₂).
- Interpret trends to provide early warnings of biological imbalances (acidification, foaming, inhibition).
- Test manure samples for compliance with FCO guidelines
- Test raw material

2. Laboratory Management

- Manage and maintain laboratory instruments: pH meters, incubators, gas analyzers, balances, and titration setups.
- Ensure GLP and GDP
- Ensure calibration, preventive maintenance, and availability of reagents/consumables.
- Maintain accurate lab records and daily reports for management review.

3. Biological Support for Operations

- Daily feeding plan
- Guide O&M team on feeding strategies based on lab data (VOA/TIC, NH₄-N, C/N balance).
- Support troubleshooting of digester upsets (low methane %, foaming, inhibition, ammonia stress).
- Advise on nutrient dosing (urea, trace elements) and feedstock mix adjustments.

4. Compliance & Reporting

- Ensure process data aligns with statutory bodies and internal quality standards.
- Prepare weekly and monthly reports on digester health and biogas quality.
- Support audits, certifications, and subsidy compliance (lab data submission).

5. R&D / Continuous Improvement

- Develop protocols for substrate activity tests (BMP assays, sugar-activity bottles).
- Evaluate new feedstocks (press mud, cow dung, chicken litter, paddy straw, etc.) for methane potential.
- Recommend process improvements for higher gas yield and stable digestion.

Skills & Competencies

- Analytical and data interpretation skills.
- Strong problem-solving orientation.
- Ability to train and guide operators.
- Good English reading comprehension
- Good documentation and reporting ability (MS Excel/Word).

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