Job Description

We are seeking a Plant Cell/Tissue Culture scientist to aid in the generation, maintenance, analysis and improvement of our plant cell culture lines.

About Green Bioactives

At Green Bioactives we are passionate about improving lives and making a positive impact on the world by developing and commercialising sustainable plant-derived natural products made using our innovative biomanufacturing platform.

Our proprietary Plant Cell Culture Technology has enabled us to revolutionise the way that plant-derived ingredients are produced, using sustainable methods of cultivation without the need to destroy trees or habitats. This means that, in a natural and sustainable way, we can reliably produce ingredients that may otherwise be challenging to obtain at the required volumes year-round.

Everyone at Green Bioactives is driven to do the right thing. We believe in a culture of honesty and transparency, where feedback is considered an opportunity for us to contribute to each other's professional growth and development. We recognise the value of diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.

We are a highly collaborative team of scientists, technologists, industry experts and entrepreneurs, united by our mission to protect the environment and revolutionise plant biotechnology.

Position

The Research Associate/Assistant (dependent on experience) in Plant Cell/Tissue Culture will provide technical support in the development and improvement of plant cell lines producing our target natural products. The successful candidate will have a good knowledge of plant sciences along with hands-on plant cell and tissue culture experience and/or experience in cryopreservation of cells.

As part of our R&D team, you will work in a dynamic environment and communicate complex biological mechanisms, methods, analyses, and results with scientists from diverse research backgrounds. The position falls within our Industrial Scientist Career Ladder, with clear routes to advancement to Scientist and Senior Scientist levels.

Key Responsibilities

The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities but rather to provide potential applicants with guidance around the main aspects of the job. These include:

Cell line maintenance:

Routine maintenance of plants and plant cell lines on solid media and in liquid suspension cultures.

Cell line initiation:

Initiate and scale plant cell cultures from cuttings on solid media and in liquid suspensions.

Cell line cryopreservation:

Assist in the development of cryopreservation and cell banking procedures and validation of cell banks.

Research assistance:

Assist more experienced plant cell culture scientists in conducting large-scale experiments.

Experimental execution:

Assist in the planning, execution and reporting of experiments involving plant cell and tissue culture.

Analytical assays:

Analyse plant cell line phenotypes, e.g. by conducting biochemical metabolite assays or microscopy.

Data collection:

Record and document experimental procedures, observations, and results with precision and attention to detail.

Data analysis:

Analyse and interpret analytical data, identify trends, and assist in drawing conclusions to support research projects and quality control processes.

Continuous improvement:

Collaborate with the wider laboratory team to develop, validate, and improve plant cell culture methods and general laboratory operations.

Documentation:

Maintain accurate and detailed records of experiments, procedures, and results using our electronic laboratory notebook in accordance with company standards.

Laboratory safety:

Adhere to and promote a culture of laboratory safety, following established safety protocols and guidelines and actively contribute to health and safety risk assessments.

Housekeeping:

Contribute to lab cleanliness, tidiness, and maintaining stocks.

Team collaboration:

Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to support ongoing research projects, troubleshoot issues, and share insights and findings.

Training and development:

Participate in training sessions and seek continuous learning opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge in plant cell culture.

Qualifications and Skills

Essential Criteria:

Experience in plant cell and tissue culture and/or cell culture fermentation. Experience using sterile technique. Experience in laboratory-based biological research. Demonstrable knowledge of plant biology. The ability to accurately follow protocols and procedures. Strong organisational skills. Excellent attention to detail. Computer literate, including using Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis. Effective communication and teamwork skills. Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changes within a fast-paced work environment. Commitment to laboratory safety and best practice.
Desirable Criteria:

BSc/MSc or equivalent in plant science, cell biology, biotechnology, and/or related disciplines. Experience working with non-model plants, including woody and medicinal plants. Experience with cryopreservation of cell lines. Experience in protoplast isolation. Experience in statistical analysis and experimental design. Experience using electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) or electronic laboratory information management system (eLIMS) software (ideally Labguru). Experience working under a quality management system. Experience working in a commercial plant tissue culture or clean laboratory. Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, multi-tasked environment.

Additional Information

Job Title: Research Associate/Assistant - Plant Cell/Tissue Culture Job Location: Pentlands Science Park Job Type: Permanent, full-time Hours of Work: A minimum of 40 hours per week worked Monday to Friday, including a paid lunch break of up to 1 hour per day. Flexibility around the core working hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Occasional weekend working may be required. Salary: 27,000 - 36,000 per annum, depending on experience. Benefits: 33 days' holiday (pro-rated, inclusive of 8 public holidays), pension scheme. Right to Work in the UK: Essential. References: To be made available upon request.
At Green Bioactives, we value diversity and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating discrimination. We offer support and make reasonable adjustments to facilitate full participation in the recruitment process. Please inform us of any requirements you may have, and we will consider reasonable adjustments.

Recruitment agencies

Please note that we are not working with any recruitment agencies for this position. For your application to be considered, please ensure that you send it directly to Green Bioactives using the link provided, as any applications sent via a recruitment agency may not reach us.

In the absence of a formal written agreement covering this vacancy, any CVs or candidate information submitted to us by a recruitment agency will be deemed to have been provided on a non-confidential basis. We reserve the right to contact, interview, and engage candidates submitted in this manner without any obligation to pay any fees or charges to the agency concerned.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 27,000.00-36,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Flexitime Free parking On-site parking Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: RA08
Expected start date: 01/07/2025