Research Assistant Controlled Environment

Join a team of innovators aligned on a mission to improve global agricultural production, sustainability and profitability through novel pollen preservation and utilization techniques.  

Job Purpose

This Research Assistant position will be a member of a team responsible for effective, efficient and optimal operation of PowerPollen® controlled environments/greenhouse operations.

Job Overview

PowerPollen is looking for an entry level researcher who is eager to grow professionally and scientifically.  Our Research Assistant position will support scientific progress by assisting in critical functionality of our controlled environments/greenhouses.

• Executing against and enabling company goal achievement through lab, controlled environment/greenhouse, and field operations.
• Collaborating with researchers, to develop protocols to advance our knowledge on plant reproductive physiology.
• Establish, nurture, and maintain relationships with key internal stakeholders of the controlled environments.
• Support and or be involved in the presentation to leadership on key areas of accountability, providing insight, lessons learned, enhancements, issues, and resolution proposals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Controlled Environments:

• Support the scientific lead in the overall management of PowerPollen controlled environments including:
  • Planting plans, decision, and execution of major agronomic crops.
  • Keeping plants disease, insect and weed free.
  • Cleaning and clearing controlled environments at the end of planting cycle.
  • Make decision on crop-wise and season-wise environmental settings.
  • Continual monitoring and reporting of controlled environment’s parameters.
• Purchasing and ordering of all the greenhouse supplies.
• Overall improvements of controlled environments.
• Communicate with controlled environment service provider to update control system.

Lab: 

• Follow safety and aseptic protocols.
• Accurately calculate, translate, and prepare large scale dilutions, and solutions from small concentrations.
• Utilize best practice laboratory skills to study and prepare cell cultures utilizing germination media, sterilizers, stereoscope, microscope and other related microbiology tools and techniques.
• Review and understand lab research objectives and protocols before execution
• Keep detailed record of activities and enter process modifications in laboratory notebooks.
• Collaborate with other team members in complex projects synchronizing activities for best use of resources.
• Produce reports and data summaries.

Field: 

• Follow safety protocols and positively encourage other team members to do the same.
• Review and understand field research objectives and protocols before execution.
• Ensure experimental methods are followed properly.
• Help design, implement, and monitor process with collaborators including logistics and materials receipt and transfer.
• Involvement in plant sample collection, storage, and manipulation.
• Keep detailed record of activities and produce reports and data summaries.

Qualifications

• Prior experience working in a controlled environment / greenhouse setting.
• Prior experience working in a laboratory setting as well as experience working in an agricultural environment.
• Skill in common agricultural practices, including field crops, and controlled environment facilities. Mechanical aptitude for adjusting and identification of issues in greenhouse facilities, that require external support.
• Experience working in a rapidly evolving and changing atmosphere including comfort working with assigned areas of responsibility as well as helping others in their areas of expertise as needed
• Adaptable and interested in regularly changing work and physical environments.  Self-sufficient and self-starter, capable of entering a new geography, acclimate quickly and reliably to field and work team.
• Positive and driven, with a problem-solving attitude.
• BS degree or High School diploma with some experience in a related field is preferred
• Demonstrated capability to quickly establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders including ability to influence, negotiate and reach mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Highly organized, capable of seeing a barrier or issue as an opportunity to overcome a challenge in the delivery of excellent results.
• Self-motivation and independent drive with an ability to work with highly effective teams
• Capable and interested in working in an environment that includes indoor lab conditions and outdoor agricultural conditions throughout the year.

Working Conditions

This position will work in varying conditions including controlled environment/greenhouses, normal laboratory setting and typical in-season outdoor agricultural environment.  This includes working in crop fields when weather conditions are extremely hot/humid, and insects are present and long periods of standing/walking may be required.

Physical Requirements

The position involves physical activity including lifting objects up to 50 pounds, walking on uneven terrain, ability to tolerate heat and humidity typical of local field conditions, with extended hours that will vary with crop development in different locales.

This position may require up to 50% travel and will require flexibility to attend to greenhouse management periodically on weekends and/or holidays or on short notice should there be compromise to the continuous operation of greenhouse facilities.

All applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status)