Research Scientist Plant Transformation and Tissue Culture

JOB DUTIES:35% - Execute plant transformation and tissue culture workflows for multiple concurrent constructs, including explant preparation, gene delivery, selection, regeneration, rooting, acclimatization, and transfer to controlled-environment growth. Plan and prioritize experiments to meet project timelines while maintaining accurate construct, sample, and event traceability. 25% - Manage transgenic and gene-edited plant advancement through greenhouse establishment, plant care, sampling, generation advancement, controlled pollination, seed production, and preparation for downstream molecular, physiological, fiber, or agronomic evaluation.

Coordinate plant inventories and experimental schedules to ensure healthy plants and timely delivery of research materials. 20% - Collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data related to transformation efficiency, regeneration, plant development, trait expression, and greenhouse phenotypes. Maintain complete experimental records; prepare data summaries, figures, and technical reports; communicate progress, risks, and results to the Director and collaborating research teams; and recommend advancement or discontinuation of individual events.

10% - Optimize and troubleshoot transformation, tissue culture, and plant-growth protocols to improve throughput, reproducibility, plant quality, cycle time, and genotype flexibility. Investigate technical failures, contamination, abnormal plant development, and variable phenotype performance while supporting laboratory safety, biosafety, quality, and documentation requirements. 10% - Prepare and communicate scientific research outputs by contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations, technical reports, standard operating procedures, and grant proposals.

Review relevant scientific literature and collaborate with Molecular Biology, Recombinant DNA, greenhouse, phenotyping, bioinformatics, and other program teams to support integrated research objectives.

Job Summary
JOB DUTIES:35% - Execute plant transformation and tissue culture workflows for multiple concurrent constructs, including explant preparation, gene delivery, selection, regeneration, rooting, acclimatization, and transfer to controlled-environment growth. Plan and prioritize experiments to meet project timelines while maintaining accurate construct, sample, and event traceability. 25% - Manage transgenic and gene-edited plant advancement through greenhouse establishment, plant care, sampling, generation advancement, controlled pollination, seed production, and preparation for downstream molecular, physiological, fiber, or agronomic evaluation.

Coordinate plant inventories and experimental schedules to ensure healthy plants and timely delivery of research materials. 20% - Collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data related to transformation efficiency, regeneration, plant development, trait expression, and greenhouse phenotypes. Maintain complete experimental records; prepare data summaries, figures, and technical reports; communicate progress, risks, and results to the Director and collaborating research teams; and recommend advancement or discontinuation of individual events.

10% - Optimize and troubleshoot transformation, tissue culture, and plant‑growth protocols to improve throughput, reproducibility, plant quality, cycle time, and genotype flexibility. Investigate technical failures, contamination, abnormal plant development, and variable phenotype performance while supporting laboratory safety, biosafety, quality, and documentation requirements. 10% - Prepare and communicate scientific research outputs by contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations, technical reports, standard operating procedures, and grant proposals.

Review relevant scientific literature and collaborate with Molecular Biology, Recombinant DNA, greenhouse, phenotyping, bioinformatics, and other program teams to support integrated research objectives.

Job Code UK07

Employee Type Temporary Grant (TGP) Staff

A Ph.D. and relevant program experience.

Responsibilities JOB KNOWLEDGE Comprehensive knowledge of theories, concepts and practices and ability to use in complex, difficult and/or unprecedented situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities Not responsible for supervising employees.

Budgetary Responsibilities No fiscal responsibility for the department's budget.

Physical Requirements Walk or move about: % Recognize or inspect visually: % Perceive, observe, clarity of…