Processing Lab Technician

Processing Lab Technician - Tissue Culture

Location: 630 Pena Dr, Davis, CA 95618

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Processing Lab Supervisor, the Lab Technician will assist in all day-to-day tissue culture processes, ensuring needed media is being prepared, maintaining needed amounts of tissue culture vessels, and working with the Supervisor to ensure both internal and external tissue culture timelines are being met.

Use appropriate tissue culture methodologies, including pollen culture, anther culture, and traditional tissue culture techniques to assist our Breeding and Molecular Biology groups to achieve internal R&D goal timelines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Monitor supply levels and report when low

Dissect, sterilize, test for viruses and other pathogens, and otherwise prepare selected tissues for reproduction

Place tissues in sterile chemical solutions to initiate reproduction or growth

Subculture reproduced material in sealed sterile containers containing a nutrient gel and grow specimens under controlled temperature and light conditions - repeating the process until they are of sufficient number and size

Grow samples of cloned organisms to maturity and monitor them for desirable or undesirable genetic mutation

Follow standard operating procedures at all times in a safe and compliant manner.

Prepare media suitable for plants or tissues to be cultured.

Sort, input, and process plant tissues for diagnostic testing.

Prepare buffers, reagents and other chemicals for standard molecular biology procedures.

Record data for inventory management, KPI's, and R&D.

Set up and operate equipment, including autoclave, centrifuges, diagnostic machinery, microscope, and pumps.

Maintain clean lab area, glassware, and equipment.

Prepare plants and tissues for initiation into culture.

Subculture plants and tissues using aseptic technique.

Collaborate with and provide support to lab staff.

Promptly report breaches in compliance, safety, and sanitation to management.

Other duties may be assigned as required.

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily (with or without accommodations). The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required

Education and Experience:

HS diploma or equivalent required. Graduates majoring in Biological or Plant Sciences highly preferred

Experience with plant tissue, mammalian tissue, fungal tissue or bacteria culture is a large plus

Experience in aseptic technique

Strong understanding of lab techniques (mixing reagents and solutions, cleaning labware, etc)

Competencies:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Efficiency, productivity, attention to detail, accuracy, and organization

Ability to work independently and in collaboration with teams

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to accurately enter data in a spreadsheet or form

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a seated or standing position for extended periods of time

Performing delicate, repetitive tasks with hands, fingers, and wrists

Exercising a consistently high degree of accuracy when using fine motor skills

Reach overhead and/or use step stool

Able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds

Must wear PPE, including gloves, mask/respirator, eye protection, and lab coat

Good eyesight (may be corrected)

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word

Work Environment:

Climate controlled laboratory conditions Confined space and secured area Strong odors from machinery, culture media, plant matter, alcohol, bleach, and other chemicals Loud noises from machinery Exposure to hazardous chemicals Normal hours of operation Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (may be subject to change depending on operational needs)