Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation, Research Associate / Scientist

Job Title: Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation, Research Associate / Scientist Job Description
This role supports plant transformation, tissue culture, regeneration, and gene-editing research with a strong emphasis on hands-on laboratory work. You will contribute directly to the development of transformed and gene-edited crops by performing detailed plant tissue culture activities and supporting daily production pipelines. Candidates may join at either the Research Associate or Scientist level, depending on education, experience, and technical depth, with all levels requiring extensive, hands-on plant tissue culture experience at a laminar-flow hood.
Responsibilities
- Perform hands-on plant tissue culture and transformation activities to support the development of transformed and gene-edited crops.
- Prepare plant explants and carry out transformation, selection, subculturing, culture transfer, regeneration, and acclimatization activities as applicable.
- Prepare sterile plant growth media according to established recipes, protocols, and quality standards.
- Perform aseptic laboratory procedures within a laminar-flow hood, maintaining strict sterile technique throughout all tissue culture operations.
- Contribute to daily production pipelines for transformed and gene-edited plant materials, ensuring reliable throughput and consistent quality.
- Maintain accurate, detailed records of plant materials, cultures, media batches, experimental activities, and results in appropriate documentation systems.
- Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment, including proper handling and storage of materials and equipment.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues on protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality-control processes, data archives, data analysis, and interpretation of experimental results.
- Contribute to the identification of successful and regenerable plant materials and support the continued development and improvement of plant tissue culture, transformation, and regeneration workflows.
- Assist with laboratory-support activities such as supply sterilization, stocking, inventory management, and registry updates as appropriate.
- At the Scientist level, design, develop, and optimize gene-delivery, plant tissue culture, transformation, and regeneration protocols.
- Develop transformation protocols for challenging new crops and adapt workflows to new species and genotypes.
- Identify limiting experimental parameters in transformation and regeneration workflows and develop solutions to improve outcomes and efficiency.
- Evaluate experimental results independently and adapt techniques, plant materials, and parameters based on data-driven insights.
- Manage, organize, and track multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring progress toward experimental and pipeline goals.
- Contribute scientific expertise to the development and refinement of protocols, SOPs, quality-control processes, data management practices, analysis workflows, and troubleshooting strategies.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Research Associates working in plant tissue culture and transformation, as appropriate to experience level.
- Serve as a technical resource and communicate scientific research, findings, and recommendations clearly to colleagues across disciplines.
Essential Skills
- Hands-on plant tissue culture experience, with at least 1 year of experience preferred at the Research Associate level.
- Proficiency in aseptic plant tissue culture techniques, including consistent use of sterile technique.
- Direct experience performing plant tissue culture in a laminar-flow hood, including explant preparation, media handling, and culture transfer.
- Ability to perform detailed, repetitive tissue culture procedures for extended periods while maintaining accuracy and consistency.
- Hands-on experience with plant transformation, selection, subculturing, regeneration, and acclimatization, particularly for candidates at the Scientist level.
- Strong laboratory documentation skills with effective organization and meticulous record-keeping.
- Ability to effectively contribute within a multidisciplinary, matrixed team environment.
- For Research Associate level: Bachelors or Masters degree in Plant Biology or a related field.
- For Scientist level: PhD in Plant Biology or a related field with at least 3 years of hands-on plant tissue culture and transformation experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Deep, hands-on expertise in plant tissue culture and transformation for Scientist-level candidates.
- Demonstrated experience developing transformation protocols for challenging new crops at the Scientist level.
- Experience identifying limiting parameters in transformation and regeneration workflows and developing solutions to optimize output.
- Ability to independently evaluate experimental results and adapt technical approaches accordingly, appropriate to position level.
- Experience developing and implementing innovative R&D concepts aligned with plant tissue culture and transformation.
- Ability to spend a significant portion of the workday performing tissue culture work at the laminar-flow hood.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with microscopy and imaging instrumentation to monitor plant tissues and cultures.
- Experience with protoplast isolation, delivery methods, and protoplast regeneration.
- Familiarity with gene-gun delivery techniques for plant transformation.
- Molecular biology skills such as cloning, DNA extraction, RNA extraction, and amplicon sequencing, in addition to core plant tissue culture expertise.
- Experience in protocol development, optimization, and troubleshooting for transformation and regeneration workflows.
- Experience with plant tissue cell culture, including sterile and aseptic technique, and sterile handling of media and plant materials.
- Exposure to protoplast-based methods and related cell biology techniques.
- Competence with microscopy-based assessment of plant cells and tissues.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through in all laboratory activities.
- Effective organization and laboratory documentation, including accurate maintenance of logs, inventories, and experimental records.
- Ability to manage assigned laboratory activities efficiently and prioritize tasks in a dynamic research environment.
- Scientific troubleshooting and problem-solving skills appropriate to the position level, with the ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues.
- Effective collaboration skills within a multidisciplinary research environment, including clear communication with colleagues in different functional areas.
- Clear scientific communication skills, both written and verbal, to convey methods, results, and interpretations.
- Accountability and commitment to safe, high-quality laboratory work and adherence to established safety and quality standards.
Work Environment
This position is primarily laboratory-based and requires substantial time performing plant tissue culture work at a laminar-flow hood. You will work with plant explants, sterile media, and specialized tissue culture equipment in a controlled laboratory setting. The role follows standard business hours, with flexibility ranging from part-time to full-time schedules depending on organizational needs. The environment emphasizes safe, clean, and organized laboratory practices, consistent documentation, and close collaboration with multidisciplinary research teams focused on transformed and gene-edited crop development.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Durham, NC.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $45.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Durham, NC.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 4, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Durham,NC. About Actalent

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