Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Plant Biologist/Plant molecular biologist
Location: Chesterfield, MO, 63017
Duration: 12 Months
Job Type: Temporary Assignment
Work Type: Onsite
Pay Rate: $25.00-$25.00/hr
Overview:
TekWissen is a global workforce management provider headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan that offers strategic talent solutions to our clients world-wide. This client is a German multinational Pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, headquartered in Leverkusen, and areas of business include pharmaceuticals; consumer healthcare products, agricultural chemicals, seeds and biotechnology products.
Job Description:
- We are seeking a motivated and skilled Biologics Research Associate to join our R&D team for an exciting one-year discovery project.
- The role focuses on screening corn germplasm for colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- This position offers the opportunity to work at the interface of plant biology, microbiology, and molecular biology, contributing to cutting-edge research that bridges lab, greenhouse, and field environments.
Key Responsibilities:
- Greenhouse Trials: Assist with greenhouse trials to evaluate the performance of corn inoculated with microbial treatments.
- Responsibilities include planting, maintaining fertilization regimes, supporting measurements, and performing destructive harvesting of plants.
- Microbial Applications: Utilize basic microbiology techniques to grow, quantify, and apply microbial inoculum for plant inoculation.
- Field Sampling: Travel to field sites and collect root samples from diverse corn germplasm.
- Molecular Biology: Conduct standard molecular biology techniques, including DNA extraction, quantification, and DNA amplification (e.g., qRT-PCR).
- Bioinformatics: Aid in the detection and analysis of target gene variants across corn germplasm.
- Microscopy: Evaluate microbial colonization in plant roots using standard and advanced microscopy methods such as histochemical staining and fluorescence imaging.
- Data Analysis & Presentation: Participate in data collection, analysis, and sharing results with stakeholders across R&D functions.
- Cross-Functional Support: Provide additional support to team members conducting controlled-environment plant physiology trials or laboratory-based microbiology experiments as needed.
- Lab Safety & IP Compliance: Ensure adherence to laboratory safety protocols and contribute to intellectual property protection efforts.
Required Qualifications & Competencies:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with at least 4 years of relevant experience, or Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience, in Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.
- Proven experience in at least one but preferably more of the following areas: plant physiology, beneficial plant-microbe interactions, soil microbiology, and/or molecular biology.
- Experience with microscopy techniques (e.g., fluorescence imaging) is highly desirable.
- A strong scientific background in biologics (or related fields) and an ability to integrate interdisciplinary approaches to address research challenges.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for presenting complex findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to work independently, collaborate within a team, and adapt to changing priorities.
- A proactive attitude with a commitment to team success and project fulfillment.
- This is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to innovative biologics research and development.
- If you have a passion for biologics, plant-microbe interactions, and applied molecular biology, we encourage you to apply and join us in unlocking new potential in agriculture.
TekWissen® Group is an equal opportunity employer supporting workforce diversity.
Job Tags
Temporary work,