Job Details
Job Location
Saint Louis - Saint Louis, MO
Position Type
Full Time
Description
The Topp Lab at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO, USA seeks a highly motivated individual to fill the position of Senior Lab Technician. We are a root phenomics lab whose mission is to enhance sustainable crop production and plant ecosystem services through more efficient and effective root systems. We are a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and dynamic group with a wide range of scientific expertise from molecular biology to sustainable agroecosystems research, imaging and computational sciences.
The successful candidate will have strong communication and team management skills, be goal oriented, and have a growth mindset. The role supports research through wet lab and administrative activities, which includes lab upkeep and oversight of technical staff in coordination with other lab research leads. Training beyond the candidate's initial skillset will be provided in coordination with formal goal-setting activities that can lead to new research and promotional opportunities.
Responsibilities:

• Molecular biology duties include:
  • High quality DNA and RNA preparation from plant and soil samples
  • q/PCR, molecular cloning, protein work
  • basic bioinformatics such as sequence alignment, BLAST search, genetic resource identification and procurement
• Administrative duties include:
  • Managing technical personnel
  • Inventory and upkeep of lab equipment
  • Coordinating with other departments/labs/vendors
  • Licensing, registrations, and purchasing
  • Hiring/onboarding
  • Development and documentation of research protocols
  • Maintenance of seed genetics inventory in coordination with the lab informatics team
• Assist in greenhouse and field phenotyping experiments, including setup, maintenance, sample processing and lab-based imaging and analysis
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to set goals and demonstrate progress towards them
• Ability to train, direct and motivate others in work toward individual and team goals
• Excellent communication skills to build trust and common understanding among the team
• Excellent data entry and recordkeeping skills
• Special consideration will be given to individuals with experience in bioinformatics and/or statistical analysis
• Live the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship

Qualifications
Qualifications:

• Associate's degree and 5-7 years relevant experience or Bachelor's degree with 3-5 years of experience or relevant Master's degree or higher

Submission:

• Cover letter clearly describing research interest and career goals
• CV
• Contact information for 2-3 professional references

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center:
Founded in 1998, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is an independent, non-profit organization with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Our focus is scientific research at the nexus of food, energy and the environment to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. We assemble interactive teams of scientists and develop unique platforms to discover underlying principles about how plants work. We then convert that knowledge into useful crops and products, and partner with organizations that are best positioned to solve problems where they exist around the world. The Centers work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as charitable contributions from individuals, companies and foundations.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is proudly an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions at the Danforth Center are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. It is our policy that the Danforth Center does not discriminate in employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin and status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to access the information provided on this web site, please contact Human Resources, at 314-587-1033 for further assistance.