Quillaja Plant Coordinator Alt Meat Lab

Location

Main Campus-Berkeley

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The Pantas and Ting Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET) Alt Meat Lab at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is seeking applications for a Quillaja Plant Coordinator to manage indoor plant cultivation at the Oxford Tract and establishment of plants in other fields (Gillman Tract, UC Davis, vertical farming unit).

Indoor plant cultivation at Oxford Tract (25%)

• Keeping the inventory of about 6,500 plants already planted from seeds.
  • 240 plants > 2 years old
  • 550 plants > 1 year old
  • 5,500 plants > 5 months (being repotted to 1 gallon)
• Diagnose pests and develop best treatment methods, assess inadequate plant growth, and generate solutions.
• Organize repotting and pruning activities for all plants; hands‑on pruning if needed.
• Supervise sampling for biomass and saponin content; hands‑on sampling if needed.
• Facilitate experiments from UC teams to gather data on plant growth.

Establishment of plants in the field (25%)

• Gillman Tract: 500 plants from Oxford Tract will be planted April/May 2023. Candidate will organize inventory, decide level of pruning, and conduct statistical sampling for saponin content.
• UC Davis: 1,000–1,500 plants planted outdoors. Candidate coordinates plot selection, costs, inventory, level of pruning, and sampling for saponin content. Also diagnose pests and develop treatment methods.

Vertical farming unit (25%)

• Establish 40 ft vertical farming unit.
• Establish hydroponic system in 40 ft container.
• Understand and supervise unit operation.
• Supervise student assistants.

Work with student support team (25%)

• Sample and determine saponin content of plants with RP‑HPLC.
• Conduct statistical analysis of saponin content.
• Coordinate 4–5 students at Oxford Tract for repotting.
• Coordinate Oxford tract personnel to prune.
• Oversee watering, nutrients and pesticide applications for indoor and outdoor plants.
• Coordinate students to model vertical farming.

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent related work experience.
• Expertise with research and horticulture.
• Greenhouse production management (all facets).
• Hands‑on experience with indoor Controlled Environment Agriculture; expertise with…