RESEARCH SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Agricultural Research Council; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural research institution in Stellenbosch is seeking an individual to assist in breeding and evaluation of grapevine. Responsibilities include flower emasculation, embryo rescue procedures, and general plant maintenance in greenhouses. Candidates should have experience in plant propagation and a keen interest in agricultural research.

Qualifications

• Experience working with plants in a research or agricultural setting.
• Knowledge of tissue culture and plant propagation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Execute tasks in collaboration with researchers on breeding and evaluation of grapevine.
• Assist with flower emasculation and pollination.
• Perform embryo rescue procedures for grapevine.

Job description

Responsibilities

• Execute tasks in collaboration with researchers on breeding and evaluation of grapevine.
• Assist with flower emasculation and pollination.
• Embryo rescue procedures (tissue culture of seedless grape crosses). This includes Aseptic removal of rudimentary seeds from surface sterilized berries (crosses), culture & dissection of rudimentary seeds to remove embryos for further culture & development and transferring germinating embryos to glass jars.
• Plant seedlings from glass jars to seed trays to harden-off plants from tissue culture.
• Plant seedlings from seed trays to plastic plant bags.
• Assist with tending to plants in greenhouses and tunnels (watering, weeding, fertigation).
• Assist with monitoring of pests and diseases in tunnels and greenhouses.
• Washing glassware and general cleaning of laboratory.
• Correct use of equipment according to specification (autoclaves, stereo microscopes, laminar flow benches, etc.)
• Keep equipment neat and clean.
• Any other ad hoc tasks that may be reasonable to be assigned to the job incumbent.