Research Associate/Assistant – Plant Tissue Culture
:
Douglas House, Penicuik
:
£28,000 - £34,000
:
Full time
:
30 Sep 2024
We are seeking a plant tissue culture scientist to aid in the generation, maintenance, analysis and improvement of our plant cell culture lines.
About Green Bioactives
At Green Bioactives we are passionate about improving lives and making a positive impact on the world by developing and commercialising sustainable plant-derived natural products made using our innovative biomanufacturing platform.
Our proprietary Plant Cell Culture Technology has enabled us to revolutionise the way that plant-derived ingredients are produced, using sustainable methods of cultivation without the need to destroy trees or habitats. This means that, in a natural and sustainable way, we can reliably produce ingredients that may otherwise be challenging to obtain at the required volumes year-round.
Everyone at Green Bioactives is driven to do the right thing. We believe in a culture of honesty and transparency, where feedback is considered an opportunity for us to contribute to each other’s professional growth and development. We recognise the value of diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.
We are a highly collaborative team of scientists, technologists, industry experts and entrepreneurs, all united by our mission to protect the environment and revolutionise plant biotechnology.
Position
The Research Associate/Assistant (dependent on experience) in Plant Tissue Culture will provide technical support in the development and improvement of plant cell lines producing our target natural products. The successful candidate will have a solid knowledge of plant sciences along with hands on plant tissue culture experience. As part of our R&D team, they will work in a dynamic environment and communicate complex biological mechanisms, methods, analyses, and results with scientists from diverse backgrounds.
Key responsibilities
The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities but rather to provide potential applicants with guidance around the main aspects of the job. These include:
• Experimental execution: Assist in the planning, execution and reporting of experiments involving plant tissue culture.
• Cell line initiation: Initiate and scale plant cell cultures from cuttings on solid media and in liquid suspensions.
• Cell line maintenance: Routine maintenance of plants and plant cell lines on solid media and in liquid suspension cultures.
• Research assistance: Assist more experienced plant tissue culture scientists in conducting large scale experiments.
• Analytical assays: Analyse plant cell line phenotypes, e.g. by conducting biochemical metabolite assays or microscopy.
• Data collection: Record and document experimental procedures, observations, and results with precision and attention to detail.
• Data analysis: Analyse and interpret analytical data, identify trends, and assist in drawing conclusions to support research projects and quality control processes.
• Continuous improvement: Collaborate with the wider laboratory team to develop, validate, and improve plant tissue culture methods and general laboratory operations.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and detailed records of experiments, procedures, and results using our electronic laboratory notebook in accordance with company standards.
• Laboratory safety: Adhere to and promote a culture of laboratory safety, following established safety protocols and guidelines and actively contributing to health and safety risk assessments.
• Housekeeping: Contribute to lab cleanliness and tidiness, e.g., by returning items to their designated places and cleaning up spillages.
• Team collaboration: Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to support ongoing research projects, troubleshoot issues, and share insights and findings.
• Training and development: Participate in training sessions and seek continuous learning opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge in plant cell culture.
Requirements
Essential Criteria:
• Experience in plant tissue culture.
• Experience in plant dissection.
• Experience in lab-based biological research.
• Demonstrable knowledge of plant biology.
• The ability to accurately follow protocols and procedures.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Computer literate, including using Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.
• Commitment to laboratory safety and best practice.
Desirable Criteria:
• BSc/MSc or equivalent in plant science, biotechnology, and/or related disciplines.
• Experience working with non-model plants, including woody plant and medicinal plants.
• Experience in protoplast isolation.
• Experience in statistical analysis and experimental design.
• Experience using electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) or electronic laboratory information management system (eLIMS) software (ideally Labguru).
• Experience working under a quality management system.
• Experience working on plant tissue culture in industry.
• Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, multi-tasked environment.
Additional information
• Job Title: Research Associate/Assistant – Plant tissue culture
• Job Location: Pentlands Science Park
• Job Type: Permanent, full-time
• Hours of Work: 40 hours per week worked Monday to Friday including a paid lunch break of up to 1 hour per day. Flexibility around the core working hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Salary: £28,000 - £34,000 per annum depending on experience.
• Benefits: 33 days’ holiday (pro-rated, inclusive of 8 public holidays), pension scheme, EMI share options.
• Right to Work in the UK: Essential.
• References: To be made available upon request.
At Green Bioactives, we value diversity and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating discrimination. We offer support and make reasonable adjustments to facilitate full participation in the recruitment process. Please inform us of any requirements you may have, and we will consider reasonable adjustments.