Assistant Scientist - Tissue Culture

Ball-Horticultural-Company-; West Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401k/Profit Sharing

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Onsite cafe and gardens

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Ball Helix TC Services is seeking a Tissue Culture Assistant Scientist to support ELITE TC plant stock production and quality control in a controlled lab environment. The role emphasizes attention to detail, teamwork, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

You will maintain stock, propagate plants for customer orders worldwide, assist in initiating new varieties, manage packing/shipping, and participate in sustainability and record-keeping using the LIMS system.

Qualifications

• Experience in a plant research or tissue culture lab preferred.
• Associate degree or BSc in a relevant field preferred.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Able to work in a sterile environment and with others.

Responsibilities

• Maintain ELITE TC stock to ensure availability for production orders.
• Build up and propagate TC plants for customer orders worldwide.
• Assist in initiating varieties into TC to expand ELITE stock for new crops.
• Assist in re-initiation of varieties to keep stock up-to-date and true-to-type.
• Assist in packing/shipping of TC plant orders to ensure on-time delivery.
• Participate in sustainability by reusing PP vessels and glass tubes.
• Assist with light lab cleaning to maintain cleanliness standards.
• Use LIMS for stock tracking and pathogen testing records.

Skills

Well organized

Detail oriented

Independent

Team player

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office 365

Education

Associate degree or BSc in a relevant field

High school diploma or GED

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Description

The Tissue Culture (TC) Assistant Scientist plays a critical role in the supply of high-quality TC plants that are used as inputs for vegetative cutting production, seed production and off-shore TC production. Important aspects of this role include great attention to detail, flexibility, the ability to thrive in an interactive, goal-oriented team environment, and working with minimal daily supervision. As a team member of Ball Helix TC Services, you will work to support a variety of TC Lab activities.

Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Maintain high-quality ELITE TC stock to ensure ELITE TC stock is available to start the TC plant production orders.
• Build-up and propagate TC plants for orders received from customers worldwide to ensure that the customer receives high-quality TC plants in full and on time to start their production cycle.
• Assist in first-time initiation of varieties into TC, including those for new crops, in order to establish the ELITE TC plant stock for new varieties in the business unit’s breeding and product development pipelines.
• Assist in re-initiation of varieties into TC, in order to keep the ELITE TC plant stock up-to-date and true-to-type.
• Assist in the preparation, packing and shipping of TC plant orders shipped worldwide to ensure on-time delivery of high-quality TC plants.
• Participate in the laboratory’s sustainability program to reuse, reduce and recycle polypropylene (PP) TC vessels and glass tubes with PP caps.
• Participate in light lab cleaning duties, in order to maintain high cleanliness standards in the laboratory and culture rooms.
• Utilize the TC Laboratory Inventory Management System (LIMS), for all tracking of TC plant stock inventory and associated pathogen testing records, to ensure accurate and thorough record-keeping and reporting.

Requirements

• Previous experience in a plant research or tissue culture lab, horticulture or manufacturing/production role preferred.
• Associate degree or BSc in a relevant field preferred.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Well organized and detail oriented.
• Work in a sterile environment to keep the plant cultures sterile.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Possess effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Does not smoke or use tobacco products due to the contamination threat of plant viruses related to these products.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 tools: Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Word file management.

Physical Requirements

• Able to Lift/Carry 25lbs 5% of the day.
• Able to push/pull 20lbs 5% of the day.
• Able to sit/stand 100% of the day.
• Able to kneel/bend 5% of the day.
• Able to reach 20% of the day.
• Able to use hands/fingers 100% of the day.Able to work in an indoor lab and office climate-controlled environment for 100% of the day.

Hourly Range: $19 - 21

Our promise to you

We create excitement in the world of flowers and are the first choice for service. We deliver all the best and nothing else! To you, we deliver a work environment and a culture where building long-lasting relationships internally and externally is important. We believe that good communication, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects will set us up for success. We keep both our feet on the ground and are approachable.In addition to this we provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes:

• Medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance
• 401k/Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
• Paid time off benefits including vacation and holidays
• Tuition assistance
• An onsite subsidized café overlooking 30 acres of renowned gardens and restored natural areas
• Employee Assistance Program and Positive Health programs