Laboratory Technician

Lab Technician
We are seeking a lab technician that will maintain and multiply clean mother blocks through plant tissue culture under the supervision of the Director of Plant Production. This will involve strictly following SOP's to cut and transfer plants to fresh medium, assisting with plant media production, employing aseptic technique, assisting in keeping plant logs, maintaining a clean work space, cleaning lab dishware, monitoring lab inventory and supplies, and other lab maintenance duties as directed.

Bachelors of Science in horticulture, plant science, chemistry, or biotechnology recommended. Cannabis micropropagation (preferred) or 1 or more years doing plant tissue culture.

An ideal candidate has:

1. Experience and knowledge in aseptic technique (tissue culture focused)

2. Experience and knowledge with basic chemistry and creating solutions

3. Experience and knowledge with plant physiology

4. Experience and knowledge in a lab environment

5. Experience and knowledge with Cannabis spp.

The Tissue Culture Lab Technician is responsible for all aspects of micropropagation. This includes preparing and pouring media, initiating cultures, maintaining clean mother blocks, nodal subcultures and multiplication, and record keeping.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Workflow

• Prepare stock solutions and adequate quantities of tissue culture media and clone gel. Ensure adequate supplies of other materials for tissue culture protocols are prepared.
• Ensure media and other materials are autoclaved at correct cycles to achieve sterilization and that autoclaved materials are properly handled to maintain sterility.
• Maintain strict cleanliness and organization of tissue culture laboratory.
• Ensure culture vessels, test tubes, clone trays, and all other lab equipment is cleaned effectively by dishwasher and/or hand washing.
• Perform/schedule and keep a log of necessary maintenance and servicing of the laboratory.
• Follow aseptic technique protocols when working in laminar flow hoods.
• Initiate multiplication groups from mother block cultures as needed. Transfer and propagate multiplication vessels as directed.
• Perform ex vitro rooting to fulfill production quotas, acclimatize, and maintain cultures.
• Use Invitro Soft, Google Drive, Microsoft Excel, and any other program as needed to track and maintain detailed records of mother block, tissue culture transfers and multiplication, rooting and transplant quotas, supply inventories, and any other data and information as needed.

Work Environment

• Adhere to all work safety requirements including but not limited to lifting, bending, and moving up and down ladders throughout shift.
• Ensure all chemicals are properly stored.
• Ensure all employees practice safe handling of all chemicals, including those used for media preparation and cleaning.
• Ensure all employees wear necessary PPE for various tasks.
• Before exiting the facility, remove protective clothing and ensure that there is no hemp on your personal clothing, shoes, or hair.

Communication

• Ensure intradepartmental communication to optimize workflow and follow effective prioritization.
• Participate in meetings with the supervisory team to discuss company changes. .
• Communicate with all other departments to ensure proper implementation of tests, workflow, compliance, safety, etc.

Supervision

• Works under the direct supervision of the Director of Plant Production.

Job Qualifications

Work Experience and Knowledge

• One year or more working with aseptic technique.
• Proficiency with MS Word, MS Excel, and Google Drive.
• Organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail and cleanliness.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a distributed team of managers and associates, vendors, and community members.

Education

• BS degree in biology, horticulture, agriculture, or a related field

Working Conditions

• Able to use a computer, hand tools, and/or laboratory equipment while sitting or standing for extended periods of time.
• Able to move about a typical office or laboratory environment.
• Able to kneel, bend, reach, rotate, and stoop on an intermittent to regular daily basis.
• Able to lift at least 25 lbs.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Work Location: One location