Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation, Research Associate​/Scientist

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

Location:

Durham, NC

Work Environment:
Onsite, laboratory-based

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a Research Associate / Scientist, Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation to support plant transformation, tissue culture, regeneration, and gene-editing research. The position is highly hands-on and will contribute directly to laboratory activities supporting transformed and gene-edited crop development.

Candidates may be considered at either the Research Associate or Scientist level based on education, experience, technical depth, and level of responsibility. The primary requirement across both levels is direct, hands-on plant tissue culture experience, including the ability to perform tissue culture work at a laminar-flow hood for extended periods. Scientist-level candidates will additionally contribute to the development, optimization, and troubleshooting of transformation and regeneration protocols.

Top Must-Have Skills

+ Hands-on plant tissue culture experience

+ Plant transformation and/or regeneration experience

+ Aseptic technique in a laminar-flow hood

+

Experience with plant explants, media handling, and culture transfer

+ Strong laboratory documentation, organization, and attention to detail

+ Ability to perform detailed, repetitive tissue culture procedures for extended periods

Key Responsibilities Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation

+ Perform hands-on plant tissue culture and transformation activities.

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

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

+ Perform aseptic laboratory procedures within a laminar-flow hood.

+ Contribute to daily production pipelines for transformed and gene-edited plant materials.

+ Maintain accurate records of plant materials, cultures, media batches, experimental activities, and results.

+ Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment.

Research & Collaboration

+ Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues on protocols, SOPs, quality-control processes, data archives, analysis, and troubleshooting.

+ Evaluate experimental results and contribute to identifying successful and regenerable plant materials.

+ Support the continued development and improvement of plant tissue culture, transformation, and regeneration workflows.

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

Scientist-Level Responsibilities

Depending on the candidate's experience and level:

+ Develop and optimize gene-delivery, plant tissue culture, transformation, and regeneration protocols.

+ Develop transformation protocols for challenging new crops.

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

+ Evaluate experimental results and independently adapt techniques and plant materials accordingly.

+ Manage, organize, and track multiple research projects simultaneously.

+ Contribute scientific expertise to protocols, SOPs, quality-control processes, data management, analysis, and troubleshooting.

+ Provide technical guidance to Research Associates working in plant tissue culture and transformation.

+ Serve as a technical resource and effectively communicate scientific research.

Required Qualifications Research Associate Level

+ Bachelor's or Master's degree in Plant Biology or a related field.

+ Hands-on plant tissue culture experience, with 1+ year preferred.

+ Proficiency in aseptic plant tissue culture techniques.

+ Hands-on experience with explant preparation, media handling, and culture transfer in a laminar-flow hood.

+ Ability to perform repetitive tissue culture procedures for extended periods.

+ Ability to effectively contribute within a multidisciplinary, matrix team environment.

Scientist Level

+ PhD in Plant Biology or a related field with at least 3 years of hands-on plant tissue culture and transformation experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

+ Deep hands-on expertise in plant tissue culture and transformation.

+ Demonstrated experience developing transformation protocols for challenging new crops.

+ Experience identifying limiting parameters, developing solutions, and optimizing protocols to improve transformation output.

+ Ability to independently evaluate experimental results and…