Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation, Research Associate​/Scientist

Position: Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation, Research Associate / Scientist
Job Title:

Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation, Research Associate / Scientist

Job Description

This role supports plant transformation, tissue culture, regeneration, and gene-editing research with a strong emphasis on hands-on laboratory work. You will contribute directly to the development of transformed and gene-edited crops by performing detailed plant tissue culture activities and supporting daily production pipelines. Candidates may join at either the Research Associate or Scientist level, depending on education, experience, and technical depth, with all levels requiring extensive, hands-on plant tissue culture experience at a laminar-flow hood.

Responsibilities

+ Perform hands-on plant tissue culture and transformation activities to support the development of transformed and gene-edited crops.

+ Prepare plant explants and carry out transformation, selection, subculturing, culture transfer, regeneration, and acclimatization activities as applicable.

+ Prepare sterile plant growth media according to established recipes, protocols, and quality standards.

+ Perform aseptic laboratory procedures within a laminar-flow hood, maintaining strict sterile technique throughout all tissue culture operations.

+ Contribute to daily production pipelines for transformed and gene-edited plant materials, ensuring reliable throughput and consistent quality.

+ Maintain accurate, detailed records of plant materials, cultures, media batches, experimental activities, and results in appropriate documentation systems.

+ Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment, including proper handling and storage of materials and equipment.

+ Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues on protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality-control processes, data archives, data analysis, and interpretation of experimental results.

+ Contribute to the identification of successful and regenerable plant materials and support the continued development and improvement of plant tissue culture, transformation, and regeneration workflows.

+ Assist with laboratory-support activities such as supply sterilization, stocking, inventory management, and registry updates as appropriate.

+ At the Scientist level, design, develop, and optimize gene-delivery, plant tissue culture, transformation, and regeneration protocols.

+ Develop transformation protocols for challenging new crops and adapt workflows to new species and genotypes.

+ Identify limiting experimental parameters in transformation and regeneration workflows and develop solutions to improve outcomes and efficiency.

+ Evaluate experimental results independently and adapt techniques, plant materials, and parameters based on data-driven insights.

+ Manage, organize, and track multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring progress toward experimental and pipeline goals.

+ Contribute scientific expertise to the development and refinement of protocols, SOPs, quality-control processes, data management practices, analysis workflows, and troubleshooting strategies.

+ Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Research Associates working in plant tissue culture and transformation, as appropriate to experience level.

+ Serve as a technical resource and communicate scientific research, findings, and recommendations clearly to colleagues across disciplines.

Essential Skills

+ Hands-on plant tissue culture experience, with at least 1 year of experience preferred at the Research Associate level.

+ Proficiency in aseptic plant tissue culture techniques, including consistent use of sterile technique.

+ Direct experience performing plant tissue culture in a laminar-flow hood, including explant preparation, media handling, and culture transfer.

+ Ability to perform detailed,…