Insect Research Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

About Us

We are a team of passionate individuals from 15 countries developing the world's first biosecurity platform built to combat critical pest threats to human health, food security and the environment. With a deep commitment to trust, integrity and collaboration, Flyttr has become the trusted partner of governments, industries, philanthropies and communities seeking to make bold advancements on the biggest pest threats of our time. We work with urgency because lives and livelihoods depend on it. Successful candidates will find Flyttr to be an exhilarating place to do their best work and will find that every person at Flyttr plays a critical role in a dynamic, exciting, team-oriented culture.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Insect Scientist to join a dynamic project team dedicated to the research and development of groundbreaking biological technologies designed to sustainably and safely control insects that transmit deadly diseases and devastate crops.

In this role, you will work under the guidance of a Senior Scientist, contributing technical expertise to support the delivery of project goals. You will be responsible for establishing insect colonies and supporting the design and execution of experimental protocols focused on generating high-quality data and measurable progress against company objectives.

To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate a strong interest in insect biology, a proactive attitude, and excellent organisational skills. You will apply careful attention to detail and problem-solving skills to support experimental work, while maintaining high scientific standards. Your responsibilities will span equipment procurement, experimental setup and execution, data collection and analysis, and reporting, as well as contributing to a safe and efficient laboratory environment.

You will take a hands-on approach to experimental work, generating and interpreting data and communicating findings clearly through reports and presentations to the Senior Scientist. You will support multiple workstreams, adapting to changing priorities as needed.

Working collaboratively with the wider team, including the molecular department, you will contribute to testing and improving insect husbandry methods, genetic transformation approaches, and strain phenotyping. You will follow SOPs, maintain good laboratory practices, and support consistency of methods and data quality.

The ideal candidate is organised, detail-oriented, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. Strong communication skills and enthusiasm for the Flyttr mission are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate self-limiting strains and assess them against the Flyttr target product profile metrics;
• Design and run experiments independently, but in full alignment with program goals and with the endorsement of the Senior Insect Scientist;
• Carefully record data and document activities and processes within laboratory books or other applicable records;
• Contribute to data analysis and interpretation, report data in meetings throughout the organisation, to audiences with various technical knowledge, and write clear and concise reports for internal review;
• Provide clear communication regarding outcomes of processes, experiments, and planning with the Senior Insect Scientist;
• Support the smooth running of the laboratory, maintaining tidiness, improving processes and supporting the team's compliance to established procedures, regulations and health and safety;
• Follow and maintain up to date health and safety records and write and update SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments;
• Manage and train any direct report in line with SOPs and training records;
• Provide occasional weekend support as part of a rota within the team;

Qualifications & Experience

• A bachelor's (Bachelor of Science) or master's degree (Master of Science) in a relevant field (e.g., entomology, biology, biochemistry) is required;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential;
• Based in the US and must be legally authorized to work in the United States;
• Demonstrate technical abilities appropriate for the role;
• Competency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint required;
• Track record of scientific diligence including valuing careful generation and recording of data, demonstrating good laboratory practices, including following SOPs;
• Experience in animal husbandry and/or maintaining insect colonies is desirable;
• Expertise in insect or arthropod transformation is highly desirable;
• Proficiency in R/R Studio and experience in using statistics is highly desirable.

Behavioral Requirements

• Commitment to, and passion for, the Flyttr mission and values.
• Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones, adapting working patterns in-line with business requirements.
• Positive, humble, co-operative and professional, always.
• Works with urgency and solves things promptly.
• Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable building processes from scratch.
• Values collaboration and works effectively with global colleagues.

Why Join Us?

At Flyttr, you will be at the forefront of critical global biosecurity efforts, working alongside a dynamic team of leaders, technologists, scientists, engineers, commercial teams, regulatory experts and operational drivers on the front lines. You will have the opportunity to directly shape the policy landscape for pioneering technologies and build the critical relationships necessary to protect global agriculture and public health.

These roles also require current authorisation to work in the United States that does not require, now or in future, any employer sponsorship or support for a change of immigration status. Flyttr does not sponsor employment-based visas or immigration status changes for US-based roles.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, medical condition, gender reassignment, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.