Research Technician - Perennial Wheat

Primary Responsibilities

• Make crosses to create new wheat and wheatgrass hybrids in the greenhouse.
• Carry out laboratory procedures such as: Conduct tissue culture to rescue hybrid embryos when necessary.
• Collect plant tissue, extract DNA or RNA, perform PCR assays, and assist with sequence analysis occasionally.
• Lead or assist with planting, harvesting, and threshing samples for field and greenhouse experiments.
• Help to oversee and maintain research plots through sowing and transplanting, weeding, irrigating, fertilizing, and organizing.
• Process samples via drying, grinding, weighing, washing, sieving, threshing, extracting, etc.
• Carefully record, enter, and manage field and laboratory data in alignment with specific project guidelines.
• Ensure that equipment and supplies needed for all tasks are available, clean, and in good working order before, during, and after use.

Communication & Outreach

• Maintain relationships and communication with external collaborators.
• Engage with visitors by leading guided tours and participating in community and scientific outreach or presentations.
• Aid the lead scientist in implementing research projects and maintaining collaborative partnerships with researchers at TLI and other institutions.

Research, Data Synthesis, & Writing

• Assist with data collection and statistical analysis of experiments.
• Synthesize and present project results at meetings.
• Research and develop protocols.

Organization & Management

• Assist with experimental design and management in the field and greenhouse.
• Help to refine field & lab protocols based on program needs.
• Aid in purchasing supplies and maintaining budget records.
• Direct & oversee the work of interns and research assistants in the lab for field and lab tasks, as well as assisting with any necessary training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an agriculture-related field or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience in agronomy, plant breeding, or genetics.
• Experience in the scientific research of field crops, including wheat.
• Experience operating farm equipment such as tractors, combines, and threshing machines.
• Experience in greenhouse management.

Hours & Location

• Generally available to work forty hours per week, via in-person and digital meetings, primarily during 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Time on weekdays when most of our staff and collaborators are working.
• No frequent travel is required except between field sites in the immediate area.
• The in-person role is grounded in the Central Great Plains at our Salina, KS, campus.

Environmental & Working Conditions

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing in a greenhouse to emasculate or pollinate wheat plants.
• Prolonged period of working outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather.
• Work primarily in the field in the summer, often in extreme heat.
• Willingness to train and safely apply pesticide treatments to plants as needed.
• Work in pest-infested areas in the greenhouse.
• Work in laboratory research settings - follow safety and general lab protocol, work with chemicals that are common for DNA and RNA extraction, wide hybridization, and mutation breeding.
• Repetitive tasks requiring fine motor skills/Good eyesight (e.g., emasculations, pollinations, embryo rescues, colchicine treatment, plant preparation with scissors, tweezers, and scalpels).

Compensation & Benefits

• The Land Institute offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• The salary range for this position is $45,968 - 51,000 annually.
• Remote-friendly work environment.
• Paid parental leave.
• Competitive, equitable compensation.
• 403(b) Retirement.
• 403(b) Employer contributions.
• Health Insurance.
• Dental Insurance.
• Vision Insurance.
• Employer-Provided Life Insurance.
• Paid holidays.
• Generous paid time off.
• Complete laptop workstation and set up for remote work.