Mycology Research, Production & Automation Systems Associate

Overview

Oak & Oyster Farms | Powered by ROVERE™ is a developing specialty agriculture company focused on commercial mushroom cultivation, applied mycology, controlled-environment agriculture, and a scalable farm-to-market network.

Our South Florida operation is being developed as a modern specialty mushroom production hub combining a mycology laboratory, controlled growing environments, agricultural production systems, environmental monitoring, practical cultivation research, and cold-chain operations.

We are looking for curious, hands-on people who want to help build and improve a commercial mycology operation from the ground up—not simply step into an already established farm.

Work Location: This is a full-time, on-site position in Loxahatchee, Florida / western Palm Beach County. Applicants should consider the commute before applying, as regular on-site attendance is required.

This is a hands-on mycology and commercial mushroom production role, not a laboratory-only research position. The successful candidate should be comfortable learning and participating in the full cultivation workflow as well as laboratory, research, environmental-control, and production activities.

Joining at this stage offers experience across mycology, laboratory operations, mushroom production, research, site development, and systems designed for future ROVERE™ hubs.

Role Description

The Mycology Research & Operations Associate is a full-time, on-site position based in the Loxahatchee / West Palm Beach area of South Florida.

Pay: $18–$25 per hour, depending on education, laboratory experience, mycology knowledge, cultivation experience, agricultural background, research experience, and technical ability.

This is a hybrid scientific and hands-on operations role.

During the initial development phase, the Associate will help set up and commission the South Florida production hub and mycology laboratory, including cultivation spaces, laboratory workstations, clean areas, shelving, equipment, sanitation systems, environmental controls, sensors, and production workflows.

As the hub becomes operational, the role will increasingly focus on laboratory work, mushroom cultivation, applied research, production monitoring, environmental control, documentation, and process improvement.

This is not a laboratory-only position. The ideal candidate is comfortable moving between laboratory work, mushroom production, farm systems, equipment setup, research, data collection, and general site operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with setup and organization of the South Florida mushroom production hub.
• Help establish, organize, and maintain the on-site mycology laboratory, including clean work areas, sterilization, culture storage, and supplies.
• Help set up grow trailers, tunnels, cultivation spaces, racks, shelving, workstations, and production equipment.
• Support installation, organization, and testing of humidification, ventilation, irrigation, lighting, sensors, controllers, and environmental-monitoring systems.
• Prepare agar, media, cultures, substrates, and other cultivation materials as appropriate to experience and training.
• Perform or assist with inoculation, incubation, fruiting, harvesting, grading, and post-harvest handling.
• Maintain sterile technique, sanitation, biosecurity, and contamination-control practices.
• Monitor temperature, humidity, CO₂, airflow, crop development, contamination, and production conditions.
• Maintain cultures and assist with strain-library organization and tracking.
• Assist with mushroom strain, substrate, yield, environmental, and cultivation trials.
• Collect production and research data, including yields, contamination rates, environmental conditions, crop quality, and cultivation performance.
• Help develop and improve laboratory, sanitation, cultivation, and production SOPs.
• Maintain organized laboratory and production areas; assist with materials, inventory, equipment assembly, and site setup.
• Identify operational problems and help develop practical solutions.
• Communicate observations, results, and issues clearly to management and team members.
• Support the development of repeatable systems that may eventually be deployed at additional ROVERE™ production hubs.

Qualifications

We are especially interested in students nearing graduation, recent graduates, postgraduate students, master's candidates, and early-career professionals interested in applied mycology and commercial specialty agriculture.

Relevant backgrounds may include:

• Mycology
• Microbiology
• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Agriculture
• Horticulture
• Plant science
• Environmental science
• Controlled-environment agriculture
• Food science
• Related disciplines

A bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred, but strong practical experience may substitute for formal education.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Foundational knowledge of microbiology, mycology, biology, or plant science.
• Familiarity with sterile technique or laboratory procedures.
• Strong interest in fungi, mushroom cultivation, and applied agricultural science.
• Experience with agar, culture work, microbiology, tissue culture, laboratory research, or mushroom cultivation is helpful.
• Agricultural, greenhouse, indoor-growing, or controlled-environment experience is beneficial.
• Interest in environmental controls, sensors, automation, or agricultural technology.
• Ability and willingness to learn farm equipment and production systems.
• Strong attention to cleanliness, sanitation, biosecurity, and contamination control.
• Accurate recordkeeping, observation, troubleshooting, and reporting skills.
• Strong organization, time management, and communication.
• Willingness to learn, solve problems, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• University research, laboratory coursework, internships, thesis work, and independent cultivation projects are considered relevant experience.

Commercial mushroom-farm experience is helpful but not required.

Physical & Work Environment

This is an active agricultural and laboratory role.

Applicants should be comfortable working on-site in a developing farm environment; standing and walking for extended periods; working in humid, refrigerated, laboratory, and outdoor environments; performing hands-on production work; using basic hand tools; moving production materials safely; and wearing appropriate PPE when required.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified applicants.

Compensation & Career Growth

$18–$25 per hour, full-time.

Starting pay will depend on the candidate's education, laboratory background, mycology knowledge, cultivation experience, agricultural experience, research experience, and technical capabilities.

This position is intended to grow alongside the South Florida hub and the broader ROVERE™ network.

As the operation expands and the employee demonstrates technical ability, reliability, leadership, and operational knowledge, potential advancement paths may include:

• Senior Mycology Research & Operations Associate
• Mycology Operations Lead
• Lead Mycologist
• Cultivation Manager
• Hub Production Manager
• Regional Mycology & Operations Manager
• Director of Mycology & Cultivation

Strong team members may have opportunities to participate in the development, commissioning, and operation of future ROVERE™ production hubs throughout Florida.

Professional Development

This position provides hands-on exposure to:

• Commercial specialty mushroom cultivation and applied research
• Mycology laboratory setup, culture, strain, and contamination management
• Controlled-environment agriculture, sensors, controls, and automation
• Production data collection, optimization, and SOP development
• Farm and production-hub commissioning
• Grow-trailer, high-tunnel, outdoor, and log-grown production
• Future agroforestry and multi-location cultivation systems

Pay: $18.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Application Question(s):

• Are you comfortable performing hands-on commercial mushroom production work in addition to laboratory, mycology, research, and operational work?

Ability to Commute:

• Loxahatchee, FL 33470 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $25