Senior Research Associate- Discovery Trait Assays

Iowa Ag; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits for you and your famil

2 extra weeks paid wellness leave

4 weeks PTO + holidays

Parental leave (16 weeks)

Retirement savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Vylor Des Moines, IA is seeking a Senior Research Associate- Discovery Trait Assays to support development, optimization, and execution of plant-based assays used to evaluate early-stage trait candidates. You will apply plant biology techniques, including transformation and phenotyping, to generate robust data for trait discovery programs.

The role requires strong experimental design, data analysis, and documentation, with collaboration across science teams.

Qualifications

• MS in Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics or related field preferred.
• BS with 3+ years of relevant experience also considered.
• Experience with plant tissue culture, transformation, and/or transient expression systems.
• Experience designing, executing, and troubleshooting biological assays.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and perform plant-based assays to evaluate and characterize novel trait candidates.
• Use transformation techniques to assess gene expression, trait performance, mode of action, and biological activity.
• Design and execute experiments, analyze results, troubleshoot issues, and propose data-driven next steps.
• Design plasmid vectors to meet assay requirements.
• Produce accurate, reproducible data while upholding scientific rigor and safety standards.
• Improve assay performance, throughput, quality, and efficiency via method development.
• Collaborate with scientists and cross-functional teams on discovery goals.
• Maintain lab equipment, reagents, and biological materials needed for assays.
• Present results through reports, presentations, and team discussions.

Skills

Plant biology

Molecular biology

Cell biology

Plant tissue culture

Geneious Prime

Data analysis

Experiment design

Independent work

Education

MS in Plant Biology or related

BS with 3+ years experience

Tools

Geneious Prime

Job description

### Job Details#### Job Title:Senior Research Associate- Discovery Trait Assays#### Location:,, ,#### Company:#### Industry Sector:#### Industry Type:#### Career Type:#### Job Type:Full Time#### Minimum Years Experience Required:N/A#### Salary:Competitive### Get Job Alerts**Career Type:** Researcher/Research & Development**Country:** USAI agree to receive alerts from and to the .Your alert was created successfully.x## General Alert Saved* The listings below are jobs matching the criteria you've selected for your General Alert on.Criteria selected was:* General alert saved for .* General alert notifications will be sent weekly on Monday.* Please note that you can only have one general alert active at any given time. Creating a new general alert will override an existing general alert.* Visit the to manage your alerts# Senior Research Associate- Discovery Trait Assays| Number of Years Experience: | Minimum Education Completed: | || Education Major / Discipline Category: | Most Recent / Current Occupation: | |**Join Vylor - Powering the Future of Agriculture**Join us to help scale innovation globally and shape what's next in crop science.We are seeking a **Senior Research Associate- Discovery Trait Assays** to support the development, optimization, and execution of innovative plant-based assays used to evaluate and characterize early-stage trait candidates. In this role, you will leverage expertise in plant biology, including but not limited to cell/plant transformation, *in vitro* and *in vivo* phenotyping, molecular biology to develop and execute robust screening platforms that generate actionable insights across a diverse portfolio of trait discovery programs. You will partner closely with scientists and cross-functional teams to design experiments, implement new methodologies, and deliver high-quality data that accelerates trait advancement and technology development. Success in this position requires strong technical skills, scientific curiosity, attention to detail, and the ability to independently drive laboratory activities while contributing to a collaborative research environment.**What You\"ll Do:*** Develop, optimize, and perform plant-based assays to evaluate and characterize novel trait candidates.* Use various transformation techniques to assess gene expression, trait performance, mode of action, and biological activity.* Design and execute experiments, analyze results, troubleshoot technical issues, and recommend data-driven next steps.* Design plasmid vectors to meet stakeholder assay requirements.* Produce accurate, reproducible, and well-documented data while upholding scientific rigor and laboratory safety standards.* Improve assay performance, throughput, quality, and efficiency through method development and process optimization.* Partner with scientists, project teams, and technology colleagues to address research questions and advance discovery goals.* Maintain the laboratory equipment, reagents, and biological materials needed for assay execution.* Present experimental results and technical findings through reports, presentations, and team discussions.**Preferred Qualifications:*** M.S. in Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, or a related scientific discipline preferred; B.S. in one of these disciplines with 3+ years of relevant experience will also be considered.* Demonstrated experience with plant tissue culture, plant/cell transformation, and/or transient expression systems.* Experience designing, executing, and troubleshooting biological assays.* Proficient skills with Geneious Prime software* Strong data analysis, record-keeping, and scientific communication skills.* Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced research environment.* Experience with automation, imaging systems, high-throughput screening, or statistical techniques is a plus.This is a site-dedicated role with expectation to be available during core office hours.**\\*Please note there is no visa sponsorship available for this role.****Benefits - How We'll Support You:*** Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills* Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place* Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment* Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays* Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father* Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program* Learn more about our total rewards package here -* Check out life at Vylor!### Vylor is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.]]>To apply please click on APPLY TO THIS POSITIONJob Post Date: 10/17/26Here are some other jobs you may be interested in applying for.| | || - | - || Vylor Des Moines, Iowa | Vylor Des Moines, Iowa || Vylor Des Moines, Iowa | |5 people are interested in this job.