Title: Research Associate – Delivery Technologies
Location: Durham, NC, 27503
Duration: 3 months (potential extension or conversion)
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, typical 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with some flexibility

Principal Responsibilities
The Research Associate, Delivery Technologies plays an important role in the product development pipeline by contributing to plant tissue culture, propagation, transformation, and regeneration. This role is based in a state-of-the-art laboratory facility in Durham, North Carolina. The Research Associate will support plant tissue culture, propagation, transformation, and regeneration activities within the laboratory.
Key Competencies:

• Performs plant tissue culture and transformation tasks, including explant preparation, transformation, selection, sub-culturing, and acclimatization across diverse plant species.
• Prepares sterile plant growth media following established recipes and protocols, with careful tracking of batches and details.
• Provides routine support with stocking and sterilization of supplies and updating inventories and registries.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail and the ability to perform repetitive tasks at a laminar flow hood for extended periods.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and organized work environment.
• Demonstrates accountability, responsibility, and integrity in all aspects of professional responsibilities while upholding organizational values.

The Successful Applicant

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Plant Biology or a related field, with plant tissue culture-related experience (1+ years preferred).
• Collaborative attitude with a desire to learn while consistently delivering high-quality results.
• Ability to work in a matrix team environment encompassing multiple disciplines.
• Proficiency in aseptic techniques for plant tissue culture, including explant preparation, media handling, and culture transfer in a laminar flow hood, is essential.
• Experience with microscopic imaging is preferred.
• Experience with protoplast isolation and delivery is preferred.
• Ability to perform molecular biology techniques, including cloning, DNA extraction, RNA extraction, and amplicon sequencing, is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications / Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with protoplast isolation and delivery/transformation.
• Experience working with major crops, particularly maize and soybean.
• Experience with specialty or less common crop species.
• Experience with microscopic imaging.
• Molecular biology experience, including:
  • Cloning
  • DNA extraction
  • RNA extraction
  • Amplicon sequencing

Important characteristics:

• Self-starter who can take initiative.
• Comfortable working independently with limited day-to-day direction.
• Adaptable and resourceful when navigating changing priorities.
• Comfortable learning new processes and contributing quickly.
• Collaborative and willing to support different areas of the laboratory as needed.
• Accountable, dependable, and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable working within a small team where responsibilities may extend beyond a narrowly defined job description.

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws.This position's pay range is $42.00/hr - $46.50/hr.