Xatoms is an AI-driven materials discovery company developing visible-light photocatalytic materials for water purification, air filtration, and surface disinfection. We combine experimental materials synthesis and characterization with data science to accelerate scalable, sustainable solutions.

Xatoms is a fast-growing cleantech startup in North America redefining clean water through science and innovation. We are an AI-driven materials discovery company using quantum chemistry to develop visible-light photocatalysts for water purification, air filtration, and surface disinfection. We combine experimental materials synthesis and characterization with data science to accelerate scalable, sustainable solutions

We’re passionate innovators developing advanced materials that eliminate a wide range of contaminants in industrial, agricultural, and municipal wastewater. Our technology is advancing through pilot programs with global partners and decentralized systems, tackling pollutants such as dyes, metals, and persistent organics.

With support from Canada’s leading innovation networks, Xatoms has evolved from university research at the University of Toronto into a global cleantech venture recognized by the Google for Startups Accelerator and Forbes 30 Under 30. Our team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals shares one mission — to build a sustainable, scalable future for clean water.

We are seeking a microbiology-focused co-op student to join our R&D team, independently conduct pathogen testing of photocatalytic coatings at the Xatoms Lab, University of Toronto Mississauga. This role is highly hands-on and self-directed — the successful candidate will be the primary microbiologist in the lab and must already be trained and comfortable handling bacterial cultures and microbiological assays with minimal supervision, prior CL2 experience is required.

The student will prepare and maintain bacterial cultures; conduct surface-disinfection tests under simulated visible-light and dark-control conditions; and perform colony enumeration to quantify photocatalytic antibacterial activity. Methods will include an ISO-style plate-count workflow and a rapid resazurin time-to-detection (TTD) screen for high-throughput comparisons. Day-to-day work is independent with supervisor oversight. Prior CL2 experience is required.

Unlike many co-op placements, this position requires independent operation within established microbiological testing workflows — including inoculation, irradiation, cell recovery, serial dilution, and plating. The student must be capable of troubleshooting, maintaining aseptic technique, and producing quantitative, reproducible data.

• Independently plan and execute microbiological experiments assessing antibacterial efficiency of photocatalytic coatings under visible-light and dark controls.
• Prepare and maintain documented bacterial strains (e.g., E. coli, S. aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium) under sterile conditions.
• Prepare growth media, buffers, and reagents; ensure all cultures and materials are traceably labeled (dates, lot numbers, initials) and properly documented.
• Inoculate coated test coupons, irradiate per experimental matrix, recover viable cells, perform ten-fold serial dilutions, plate counts, and colony enumeration with replicates.
• Run the rapid resazurin TTD assay for preliminary screening; analyzeTTD values against standard curves and reconcile results with plate counts.
• Identify contamination sources and troubleshoot experimental errors.
• Record, analyze, and present data using Excel and/or Python; apply basic statistics to replicates (e.g., means, SD, log reductions).

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an eligible co-op program (Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field).
• Proven hands-on microbiology experience — must already know how to culture, plate, and enumerate bacteria independently.
• Demonstrated ability to follow biosafety procedures and maintain aseptic conditions with accurate dilution series and duplicate/replicate agreement.
• Excellent recordkeeping, attention to detail, and ability to work independently with supervisor check-ins.
• Basic data-handling skills (Excel) and familiarity with lab documentation practices.
• 12- or 16-month terms accepted.

• Experience with antibacterial testing and/or resazurin metabolic assays.
• Familiarity with serial dilutions, viability assays, or TTD/standard-curve analysis.
• Comfort with basic data visualization or scripting (Python, MATLAB, OriginLab, etc.).

All work occurs in an approved Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratory following Xatoms’ biosafety SOPs. Initial orientation and method walk-throughs are provided; day-to-day work is independent with scheduled supervisor oversight. The student is responsible for maintaining safety, data integrity, and complete documentation.

• In-person at Xatoms Lab at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada and be available to start latest on January 5th, 2026.

• Gain real-world research experience in antimicrobial and photocatalytic testing, working directly on experiments that bridge science and application.
• Exposure to cutting-edge materials R&D linking chemistry, microbiology, and data science.
• Contribute to the experimental development of a growing clean-tech company where your results directly influence next-generation water purification technologies.

• Resume/CV
• Official transcript
• Short cover letter outlining relevant CL2 microbiology experience, methods you’ve used (e.g., plate counts, resazurin/viability assays), availability (12- or 16-month term), and your earliest available start date.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis