Plant Research Technician - DNA Sampling

Actalent; Johnston (IA); On-site; USD 23,419,000 - 31,685,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short & long-term disability

Health Spending Account

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation / Sick Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Lab Assistant to support plant research in Johnston, IA. You will collect samples from soybean and wheat plants for DNA analysis in a climate-controlled growth chamber, following established protocols and ensuring safety and accuracy.

The role involves handling plant material, repetitive tasks with tweezers and tools, and maintaining high-quality data while meeting site metrics. It is a full-time contract position with weekend and holiday flexibility in a warm environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; science background preferred.
• Follow established protocols and accuracy in execution.
• Experience in lab, greenhouse, or seed chipping environments.
• Able to perform repetitive gripping and squeezing tasks.
• Able to lift up to 25 pounds regularly; up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Willing to work weekends and holidays as needed.

Responsibilities

• Collect samples of soybean and wheat plants and tissues for DNA analysis.
• Handle plant material to maintain DNA integrity and analysis reliability.
• Use tweezers and instruments for seed chipping and sample prep.
• Maintain clean, safe facility per SOPs and safety standards.
• Document work and follow research protocols; meet performance metrics.
• Perform recurring physical tasks: standing, bending, reaching, lifting.

Skills

High School Diploma

Science background

Protocol adherence

Attention to detail

Lab/greenhouse experience

Repetitive manual tasks

Lift 25–50 lbs

Weekend shifts

Holiday availability

Warm environment tolerance

Education

Associate’s Degree or higher

Research laboratory experience

Seed chipping familiarity

Tools

Tweezers

Laboratory instruments

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Lab Assistant to support plant research in Johnston, IA. You will collect samples from soybean and wheat plants for DNA analysis in a climate-controlled growth chamber, following established protocols and ensuring safety and accuracy.

The role involves handling plant material, repetitive tasks with tweezers and tools, and maintaining high-quality data while meeting site metrics. It is a full-time contract position with weekend and holiday flexibility in a warm environment.