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Scientific Assistant

Tropic Biosciences

Tropic Biosciences

Norfolk, VA, USA
Posted on Apr 24, 2025

PLEASE NOTE - THIS ROLE IS INTERNAL ONLY

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organized, and hardworking individual to join the Rice Biotechnology Team to support all stages of in vitro plant production.

Job Purpose

In this role you will be working in a dynamic team that generates novel high-performing varieties of rice using cutting-edge gene-editing technology. You will support all stages of in vitro plant production as well as various horticultural and assay development initiatives. This role will suit you if you have good hands-on skills and are comfortable with working in a process where efficiency, precision, and attention to detail are essential. Tissue culture tasks might be repetitive, so you should also be comfortable executing repetitive tasks. As Tropic provides training, no prior knowledge of rice tissue culture is required. It is expected that initially you would learn and carry out our protocols under supervision and then take on more responsibility and operate independently.

Responsibilities

  • Maintenance of in vitro plant material in different developmental stages
  • Labelling and recording all processed samples
  • Collection of experimental data and updating of electronic databases (LIMS)
  • Working under the fluorescent microscope to screen tissue culture material
  • Handling large numbers of sterile cultures
  • Glasshouse work when required (e.g., potting of transformed plant material, sample collection, phenotyping)
  • Working with a team of scientists to develop and implement plant transformation and tissue culture protocols
  • Collaborate on ad hoc lab tasks within the team
  • Independently manages smaller projects within the rice pipeline, completes tasks and pro-actively communicates any issues to pipeline manager and / or project lead.

Requirements

  • Ability to work well as part of a fast-paced manufacturing and production environment
  • Ability to follow SOPs and perform repetitive tasks to a high standard
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to adhere to deadlines
  • Strong team-work skills
  • The ability to work independently where required
  • Positive and enthusiastic attitude. Understand the dynamic nature of R&D projects and keep positive when facing changes in plans.
  • Strong and clear written and oral communication skills
  • Actively looks to build proficiency in a broad range of techniques and to develop knowledge in relevant areas
  • Proficient in working with MS Office programs
  • A collaborative approach, open to giving and receiving ideas, perspectives, and feedback
  • Accuracy in record-keeping
  • Good team player, strong execution, and flexibility to handle changes
  • Self-motivation, ownership, and focused execution
  • Proactive and able to work with compliance in biosafety, quality, and stewardship