Senior Research Associate, Delivery & Transformation (Contract)

About the role

We are seeking a determined, impact-driven Contract Senior Research Associate for a role on the Delivery and Transformation team. The successful candidate will be highly organized and comfortable working as an integral member of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. Excellent communication, record-keeping, and teamwork skills will be critical.

Responsibilities

• Establish and use plant protoplast transient expression systems
• Phenotype plants for disease symptoms
• Work with a team of researchers to innovate, optimize, and execute various plant delivery and transformation methods
• Troubleshoot transformation protocols, solve complicated experimental problems, and propose solutions related to transformation methods and bioassays

Qualifications

• BS in Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline and 5+ years of professional laboratory experience
• or MS in one of these fields and 3+ years of professional laboratory experience
• Experience working in industry a plus

Additional Qualifications

• Experience with protoplast transient expression systems
• Experience in one or multiple plant delivery techniques, including Agrobacterium, biolistic, nanoparticle, and viral
• Experience with plant disease symptom phenotyping
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with a diverse interdisciplinary team
• Demonstrated organizational and record-keeping skills
• Experience with project management or leadership experience
• Enthusiasm for science and willingness to adapt to the changing needs of a fast-paced research and development effort

Location

Durham, North Carolina

Pay

The pay range for this role is $38 – $47 per hour and the contractor will be employed by a third-party staffing company.