Research Assistant (Temporary)

Location: San Diego, California
Position Type: Temporary
Hourly Range: $20.00 to $27.50
Area(s) of Expertise Desired: Cell Biology/ Biological sciences/Biotechnology
Job Code: CB2302

Description:

Cibus is a biotechnology company with advanced technologies to precisely target and direct a plant’s natural gene-editing processes. This approach accelerates natural plant breeding that has been a staple of farming for thousands of years and has resulted in a rapid, versatile and low-cost way to produce sustainable industrial and agricultural products and improve human health by safely harnessing nature's own genetic diversity.

The company has a worldwide presence, with subsidiaries in Europe and North America and a state-of-the-art research and development center in San Diego. Cibus has a pipeline of traits for canola and rice and is developing crop platforms and a pipeline of trait products in other major global crops including soybean, corn, and wheat. The broad applicability of Cibus’ technologies is highlighted by the company’s strain-advancement program, which develops sustainable products in microbial platforms for the food, flavor and fragrance, and personal care markets.

Cibus has an immediate opening for a Research Specialist position to help us to revolutionize plant breeding.

Requirements:

BS/MS degree in Cell Biology/Biological Sciences/Biotechnology or equivalent relevant field. A minimum of 5 years’ experience with BS or a minimum of 2 years’ experience with MS in research and/or development environment.

Role Responsibilities:

• Conduct experiments involving plant cell and tissue culture (protoplast techniques, somatic embryogenesis, suspension cultures, shoot regeneration, micropropagation) and gene editing reagent delivery methods.
• Prepare media and other materials required for various daily experiments.
• Investigate, create and develop new methods and technologies for project advancement and to further understand the cellular processes involved in the application of Cibus’ proprietary technology.
• Utilize scientific literature to design experiments and improve methods.
• Perform quantitative analysis, prepare technical reports, protocols, written and oral presentations.
• Participate in the preparation and improvement of SOPs.

Knowledge, experience, skills:

• Expertise with plant tissue culture processes such as cell culture techniques, somatic embryogenesis, regeneration, transformation, and cell culture media preparation.
• Familiarity with microscopy, microphotography, imaging software, and cytometry is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of gene editing technology, plant protoplast/cell culture methods and in vitro plant regeneration systems is a plus.
• Able to manage one or more short term projects with/without guidance while meeting deadlines.
• Independently designs, analyzes, and problem solves routine experiments; makes recommendations for moderately complex assignments.

Core capabilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and motivational skills, accurate record keeping, and attention to detail.
• Able to use judgment and make routine recommendations for resolving problems in moderately complex assignments.
• Highly proficient in Excel and MS Office suite.
• Follows SOPs and properly maintains a research notebook; independently troubleshoot, write, and provide guidance for SOP generation.
• Responsibilities may include supervising direct reports and enabling others through cross-team interactions.
• Proactively communicates with supervisor and teammates; proficient at preparing progress reports and presentations; prepares invention disclosures and similar internal documents with guidance.
• Demonstrates leadership by being proactive, showing initiative, enabling others, and leading by example.
• Ability to adapt to minor changes in routine to achieve objectives.
• Ability to be independent, self-motivated, and enjoy working in a highly collaborative environment.

Cibus provides an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes medical/dental/vision, flexible spending, 401(k) plan, vacation and sick leave. If you enjoy working as part of a team and want to participate in this exciting research, please e-mail your resume to and put down job code: CB2302.

ONLY CANDIDATES WITH WORK AUTHORIZATION IN THE U.S. ARE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME.