Research Associate II, Delivery & Transformation (Contract)

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Terrana Biosciences is one of the latest companies founded through Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Therapeutics and Evelo Therapeutics were conceived and created. Since Flagship’s founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of nearly 100 scientific ventures resulting in $19+ billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents, and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents. Arana Biosciences is integrating the latest developments in molecular biology and plant biology to create a new platform technology that enables adaptive, targeted and sustainable solutions in agriculture.

THE ROLE

Are you a highly motivated and driven researcher who wants to contribute to developing products for sustainable agriculture? We are seeking a determined, impact-driven Contract Research Associate II to join our Delivery and Transformation team. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in developing cutting-edge techniques for plant delivery and transformation in diverse plant systems. 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 analytical, problem-solving, communication, record-keeping, and teamwork skills will be critical.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with a team of scientists to innovate, optimize, and execute various plant delivery and transformation methods.

• Troubleshooting transformation protocols, solving difficult experimental problems, and proposing solutions related to transformation methods and bioassays.

• Assisting in plant phenotyping and imaging.

• Performing bacterial plasmid transfections.

• Sampling plants for molecular assays used as experimental readouts.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• MS in Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline or a BS in one of these fields with at least 2 years of full-time professional laboratory experience.

• Experience working in industry a plus.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with a diverse interdisciplinary team

• Basic horticultural skills and experience working with plants in a controlled environment

• Strong organizational and record keeping skills

• Strong understanding of safe laboratory practices

• Experience with Microsoft Office

• Experience with automated growth control systems a plus

• Strong willingness to learn

• Innovative with an ability to problem-solve

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with common plant transformation methods, such as Agrobacterium and biolistic approaches. 

• Expertise in handling plant tissues and sampling plants for assays.

• Experience with DNA, RNA, and protein isolation and purification.

• Experience with RNA-related workflows and RNA-protein interaction is a plus.

• Hands-on experience with bacterial, fungal, and/or viral pathogens in economically important crops a plus.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with a diverse interdisciplinary team.

• Demonstrated organizational and record-keeping skills. 

• Enthusiasm for science and willingness to adapt to the changing needs of a fast-paced research and development effort.

• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new techniques, efficiently troubleshoot lab protocols, and manage multiple experimental workflows.

• A strong self-starter, results-oriented with strong attention to detail.

Location: Durham, NC

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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