Scientific Technician - Phenotyping

Wild Bioscience Ltd; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotechnology company based in Oxfordshire is seeking a motivated Technician with a background in Plant Science to support their R&D initiatives. The role involves assisting with plant phenotyping measurements and molecular biology lab activities, maintaining accurate records, and preparing materials for experiments. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in science and be a team player who enjoys problem-solving and taking initiative in a fast-paced environment. Join a passionate team making a significant impact in bioscience!

Benefits

Group life cover x 4 of base salary

Pension scheme with 5% company contribution

Private medical insurance including dental and optical

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Regular company socials

Complimentary refreshments

Team meals including breakfast and lunch

Training and development opportunities

Flexible working opportunities

Opportunity to work with cutting-edge science

Qualifications

• Support research activities for R&D Trait Validation team.
• Assist with plant phenotyping and molecular biology lab activities.
• Maintain accurate records and assist with presentations.

Responsibilities

• Carry out measurements of physiological parameters for plant crops.
• Use gas-exchange instruments for data collection.
• Prepare materials and perform routine lab tasks.

Skills

Plant Science background

Team player

Experience with gas-exchange equipment

Problem-solving

Curiosity and initiative

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science or equivalent experience

Job description

At Wild Bio we are radically enhancing crops to feed the world sustainably and promote a wilder planet. Wild plants have had half a billion years to evolve natural solutions for thriving in almost every environment on Earth. Our proprietary genetics platform harnesses these wild innovations to enhance the world’s most important crops. Wild‑enhanced crops would simultaneously boost farm yields and promote gigaton‑scale carbon mitigation strategies. If you’re looking for a start‑up that has enormous potential for impact on growers, consumers, and the planet, please read on.

Wild Bio is a well‑funded, fast‑paced Oxford University spin‑out working from state‑of‑the‑art labs and offices at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. We are about to enter an exciting phase of growth and are looking for a driven, and curious scientific technician to join us and significantly contribute to delivering the change we believe in.

Our values

Our work is guided by three core values that define who we are and how we approach our mission:

• Curiosity: We fuel our desire to explore the unknown, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and sparking innovation. We ask questions, seek answers, and embrace lifelong learning.
• Community: We believe in the strength and support gained through collaboration and inclusion. As part of a global community, we nurture connections to drive meaningful impact for both people and planet.
• Courage: We face challenges head‑on, take calculated risks, and stand up for our beliefs. Our bravery propels us to take action, even in the face of adversity.

If these values resonate with you, we invite you to join our team of passionate scientists and innovators working at the cutting edge of bioscience.

The role

We are looking for a motivated Technician with a background in Plant Science to support our research and development initiatives.

Detailed responsibilities

In this position, you will support the research activities for our R&D Trait Validation team. You will assist with the plant phenotyping measurements whilst also undertaking some more specialist plant physiology routine protocols. Also, you will be providing general laboratory support to the team, with a focus on molecular biology lab activities.

• Carrying out measurements of different physiology parameters for a range of plant crops.
• This will include, but is not limited to, the use of gas‑exchange instruments (i.e., LI‑COR) to collect data on photosynthetic rates, transpiration, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and other relevant parameters.
• Maintaining accurate and detailed records of experimental procedures, data, and observations, assisting with presentations, and reporting results in meetings.
• Preparing materials, solutions, and equipment for experiments, and performing routine tasks like sampling, plant maintenance, and nucleic acid extractions.
• Following SOPs to ensure consistent and high‑quality operations.
• Helping maintaining reagents inventory.
• Working with multidisciplinary teams on research projects, assisting with troubleshooting, writing and reviewing SOPs.

Knowledge and skills

• Bachelor’s degree in science, or evidence of equivalent work experience.
• Experience handling gas‑exchange equipment is a plus.
• Be a team player in a multi‑disciplinary environment, building relationships, and gaining trust from others through honesty, compassion, and authenticity.
• Have a curious and courageous mindset, enjoy stepping up to try new things in a changing environment, and taking initiative where there is often ambiguity.
• Approach solving difficult and complex problems head on, working from first principles and collaborating as a team to re‑think problems and learn from both successes and failures.
• Want to seek out new opportunities to develop, share learnings with others, and strive to support others in their own development and growth.
• Challenge established approaches with the aim of improving the system.
• Take initiative where needed with tasks that have not been assigned.

Benefits

• Group life cover x 4 of base salary
• Pension scheme with a 5% Company contribution
• Private medical insurance including dental and optical
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Regular company socials
• Complimentary refreshments throughout the week
• Team meals including breakfast on a Monday and lunch each Friday, creating opportunities for informal networking and team bonding
• Training and development opportunities
• Flexible working opportunities
• Opportunity to work with cutting edge science

Location

We’re headquartered in Milton Park, a business and technology park in Oxfordshire. While we do offer flexible and hybrid working, we are also a small, fast‑paced team working on cutting‑edge science, and we believe the relationships forged and the work we do in‑person will be crucial for our success. For this reason, we are asking that applicants be able to work on‑site.

The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.