Research Technician

Position Summary

Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Research Technician is a key contributor to Haplotech's scientific innovation and leadership in the area of executing key service breeding activities in soybean, canola, hemp and other broad acre crops. The Research Technician's skill and knowledge will be relied upon to manage indoor growth and maintenance of crops of interest under optimal growth conditions. The Research Technician will support breeding operations and other technical services projects by carrying out crosses in grow rooms and greenhouses and working in the lab to carry out doubled haploid (DH) production as well as other activities aimed toward developing Haplotech's capacity for meeting every clients' specific technical needs.

Responsibilities

● Perform all functions necessary for indoor (greenhouse/grow room) growth and maintenance of crops of interest

• Preparing pots for seedlings arriving from lab

• Transplanting all seedlings grown in lab and grow chambers

• Plant maintenance (water, fertigation, trimming, spacing plants, etc.)

• Determining plant fertility

• Removing flowers and bagging fertile plants

• Shaking and lifting bags daily to ensure appropriate growth

• Harvesting plants

• Threshing seed from dry harvested plants

• Packaging and documenting seed that has been produced

• Performing manual cross pollination on a variety of crops (soybean, canola, etc.)

● Perform all laboratory functions of DH production while following protocol through all steps of process

• Receive seed from clients (check against inventory list, examine seed, review documentation/protocol)

• Plant seed received from clients

• Plant maintenance (water, fertigation, trimming, other treatments)

• Picking buds (bud sizing, isolation)

• Media change (follow all protocol to create media)

• Embryo monitoring/maintenance (flush media, add fresh media)

• Splitting (split embryos from plate)

• Cleaning and sanitization (operate autoclave, clean lab utensils)

● Provide maintenance and care for all plants in greenhouses, grow rooms, grow tents, grow cabinets

● Troubleshoot growth environments to ensure optimal growth conditions (communicate with Operations Manager when necessary)

● Perform leaf tissue sampling to send to laboratory/client

● Accurately calculate dilution/concentration rates

● Monitoring and treating for pest and disease pressure

● Monitor plant growth and perform crosses and other activities at optimal timing to further breeding program

● Follow all Standard Operating Procedures in executing experimental protocols on breeding material

● Calibrating and testing breeding material with inhouse equipment

● Troubleshoot greenhouse and grow room to ensure optimal growth conditions (light intensity duration, temperature, humidity, etc.)

● Organize and maintain accurate data records through entire greenhouse process

• Upon receiving seedlings from lab

• During growth and maintenance

• Upon determining fertility

• Upon threshing and packaging seed

● Produce monthly reports for Operations Manager

● Communicate updates with clients (when necessary)

● Help perform administrative tasks in regard to obtaining import/export documentation, phytosanitary, etc.

● Participate in greenhouse/grow room internal audits

● Help train and supervise support staff

● Other duties as required

Qualifications

Formal Education or Equivalent

● Diploma, Certificate or Degree in Agriculture, Botany, Plant Science, Plant Management or equivalent required (B.Sc. preferred)

● Familiarity/training in WHMIS, MSDS

Years of Experience

● Minimum 3 years experience in Plant Science

● Experience with indoor plant production is an asset

● Experience working in plant science lab is an asset

Characteristics

● Passionate about agriculture, farming and plant breeding

● Comfortable working in a fast-paced start-up environment

● Knowledge of plant physiology

● Highly independent, goal-oriented and solution driven

● Strong verbal and written communication skills

● Excellent organizational and time management skills

● Self-starter

● Ability to work well within time constraints, able to effectively prioritize in a high demand environment within multiple locations

● Excellent hand/eye coordination (fine motor skills)

● Detail oriented

● Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel

● Must be able to perform repetitive tasks accurately

● Must be able to travel ~10% of the time (Class 5 driver's license)

• *Candidates must have their own transportation to get to our research farm 1 mile North of LaSalle, MB, just 10 minutes from South Winnipeg*

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00-$22.00 per hour

Work Location: In person