Lab & Greenhouse Technician

Kelly Services; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Services seeks a Lab & Greenhouse Technician Contractor to join a four-person research team. The role focuses on hands-on handling of soil and plant materials, setup, movement, and disposal in lab and greenhouse environments.

This role requires aseptic technique, plant science knowledge, and the ability to work physically with plants, soil, trays, carts, and research materials; schedule includes early start times and occasional Saturdays.

Qualifications

• Background in Biology, Plant Science, or related discipline preferred.
• One to two years laboratory/greenhouse or research experience may substitute for degree.
• Aseptic technique required and sterile handling experience.
• Knowledge of plant science and handling plant material essential.
• Hands-on with physical handling of plants, soil, trays, carts, samples.
• Experience with fungal cultures preferred.
• Safety practices for chemical handling, PPE, and waste disposal.
• Ability to work independently and in a small team.
• Attention to labeling, organization, and detail.
• Willingness to perform physical tasks like moving carts.

Responsibilities

• Handle, move, organize, tag, weigh, bag, and dispose of plant and soil materials used in research studies.
• Prepare research studies by placing plants into trays and pots, tagging plants, arranging materials, and assisting with research applications.
• Mark plants for mobility studies and breakdowns, move plant materials onto carts, and support downstream handling and disposal activities.
• Work directly with plants in greenhouse environments, including moving trays and carts, cutting flats into individual pots, handling plant material, and maintaining organized work areas.
• Prepare research media, specified solutions, tubes, and bottles according to established procedures.
• Assist with inoculating and harvesting stock, prepare inoculum for plant studies, and support large-pot and leaf-disc projects.
• Prepare, maintain, harvest, and store fungal cultures under sterile conditions while following contamination-control procedures.
• Clean and rinse glassware and laboratory equipment and sterilize materials using an autoclave.
• Safely handle and apply fungicides and other research-related chemicals in accordance with established protocols.
• Properly wear and use required Personal Protective Equipment, including Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), for chemical and other hazardous tasks.
• Maintain proper chemical labeling, storage, and disposal practices in accordance with safety guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Wash and move carts, clean work areas, cut flats into individual pots, bag and weigh plant material for disposal, and maintain clean laboratory and greenhouse benches and floors.
• Empty and replace hazardous and non-hazardous waste containers appropriately.
• Scrub Growth and Dew Rooms and stock laboratories and greenhouses with necessary supplies.
• This position should not be viewed as a traditional laboratory technician role centered on sitting at a bench and performing tests or analytical measurements. The majority of the work involves hands-on support of plant and soil research, including moving and organizing plant materials, setting up and breaking down studies, handling samples, preparing inoculum, applying chemicals, cleaning equipment and facilities, and maintaining research areas.

Skills

Plant handling

Tray setup

Pots & movement

Greenhouse support

Aseptic technique

Media prep

Inoculum prep

Fungal culture

PPE usage

Chemicals handling

PAPRs

Lab sanitation

Waste management

Education

Biology/Plant Science degree preferred

Job description

Lab & Greenhouse Technician Contractor

Join a collaborative four-person research team supporting laboratory and greenhouse studies. This is a highly hands‑on position focused on the physical handling, preparation, movement, and disposal of soil and plant materials—not a traditional bench laboratory testing role. The successful candidate will spend significant time working with plants, soil, trays, pots, carts, greenhouse materials, and research applications, while also performing supporting laboratory tasks.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys active, hands‑on work, has experience with plant material and aseptic techniques, and is comfortable working in both laboratory and greenhouse environments. Candidates should be prepared for frequent lifting, moving, washing, cleaning, setup, breakdown, and handling of plant and soil samples as part of daily research activities.

Pay & Schedule

Contract: One‑year assignment with potential annual extensions based on performance

Location: Laboratory and greenhouse environment

Pay Rate: $22/hr

Schedule: Monday–Friday, with a 7:00–7:30 a.m. start time due to early research activities

Saturday: Approximately 2 hours one Saturday per month

The Role:

As a Lab & Greenhouse Research Technician Contractor, you’ll support daily research operations involving hands‑on plant and soil material handling, plant study setup and breakdown, media preparation, inoculum preparation, chemical applications, and facility upkeep. Responsibilities rotate to provide variety and continued hands‑on engagement.

Plant & Soil Material Handling:

Handle, move, organize, tag, weigh, bag, and dispose of plant and soil materials used in research studies. This position involves substantial physical handling of samples and plant material rather than primarily performing bench‑based testing or analytical work.

Plant Study Setup:

Prepare research studies by placing plants into trays and pots, tagging plants, arranging materials, and assisting with research applications.

Plant Mobility & Breakdown:

Mark plants for mobility studies and breakdowns, move plant materials onto carts, and support downstream handling and disposal activities.

Greenhouse Work:

Work directly with plants in greenhouse environments, including moving trays and carts, cutting flats into individual pots, handling plant material, and maintaining organized work areas.

Media Preparation:

Prepare research media, specified solutions, tubes, and bottles according to established procedures.

Inoculum & Culture Work:

Assist with inoculating and harvesting stock, prepare inoculum for plant studies, and support large‑pot and leaf‑disc projects.

Fungal Culture Handling:

Prepare, maintain, harvest, and store fungal cultures under sterile conditions while following contamination‑control procedures.

Glassware & Equipment:

Clean and rinse glassware and laboratory equipment and sterilize materials using an autoclave.

Chemical Handling:

Safely handle and apply fungicides and other research‑related chemicals in accordance with established protocols.

PPE & Safety Compliance:

Properly wear and use required Personal Protective Equipment, including Powered Air‑Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), for chemical and other hazardous tasks.

Chemical Storage & Disposal:

Maintain proper chemical labeling, storage, and disposal practices in accordance with safety guidelines and regulatory requirements.

Housekeeping & Physical Work:

Wash and move carts, clean work areas, cut flats into individual pots, bag and weigh plant material for disposal, and maintain clean laboratory and greenhouse benches and floors.

Waste Management:

Empty and replace hazardous and non‑hazardous waste containers appropriately.

Facility Maintenance:

Scrub Growth and Dew Rooms and stock laboratories and greenhouses with necessary supplies.

This position should not be viewed as a traditional laboratory technician role centered on sitting at a bench and performing tests or analytical measurements. The majority of the work involves hands‑on support of plant and soil research, including moving and organizing plant materials, setting up and breaking down studies, handling samples, preparing inoculum, applying chemicals, cleaning equipment and facilities, and maintaining research areas.

The successful candidate should be comfortable being physically active throughout the workday and working directly with plants, soil, trays, pots, carts, and other research materials.

Qualifications

We’re looking for candidates who bring the following:

• Education: Background in Biology, Plant Pathology, Plant Science, or a related scientific discipline preferred.
• Experience: One to two years of relevant laboratory, greenhouse, plant science, agricultural, or research experience may substitute for degree requirements.
• Aseptic Technique: Required experience working in sterile conditions and following aseptic practices.
• Plant Science: Knowledge of plant science and experience handling plant material are essential.
• Hands‑On Experience: Comfortable with physical handling of plants, soil, trays, pots, carts, samples, and research materials.
• Fungal Culture Experience: Experience preparing, maintaining, inoculating, harvesting, and storing fungal cultures is strongly preferred.
• Safety Knowledge: Familiarity with contamination prevention, chemical handling, fungal‑culture safety procedures, PPE, and waste disposal practices.
• Work Style: Proven ability to work effectively both independently and within a small, collaborative professional team.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to carefully follow procedures, maintain accurate labeling and organization, and complete hands‑on work in laboratory and greenhouse settings.
• Physical Work: Willingness and ability to perform routine physical tasks such as moving carts and plant materials, washing equipment, handling soil and plant material, and maintaining laboratory and greenhouse spaces.

Core Skills

• Hands‑on plant and soil material handling
• Plant tagging, tray setup, potting, movement, breakdown, and disposal
• Greenhouse and plant research support
• Aseptic technique and sterile laboratory practices
• Media, solution, tube, and bottle preparation
• Autoclave operation and basic laboratory equipment use
• Inoculum preparation and fungal culture maintenance
• Safe handling and application of fungicides and related chemicals
• Proper use of PPE, including PAPRs
• Chemical labeling, storage, waste handling, and disposal
• Strong laboratory and greenhouse housekeeping practices
• Dependability, motivation, organization, and attention to detail

What Makes Someone Successful

The strongest candidates are highly motivated, reliable, safety‑focused, and comfortable with active, hands‑on work. Success in this role requires someone who enjoys working directly with plants and research materials, can follow established procedures carefully, maintains sterile conditions when required, and is willing to perform the physical tasks necessary to set up, maintain, move, and break down research studies.

This role is best suited for a person who takes pride in working with plants and soil, keeping research spaces clean and organized, supporting studies from setup through breakdown, and contributing wherever hands‑on help is needed.