Research Technician

Job Description

Company Registration Number: 7925932 | Registered Office: Unit 6 Hassacarr Close, Chessingham Park, Dunnington, York, England, YO19 5SNResearch Technician in Plant SciencesLocation: York AreaContract: PermanentSalary: £22,000 - £32,000We are recruiting a research technician to support the Technology Development group and beresponsible for the evaluation of the effect of microbes on plants cultivated in different substratesand environments. The successful candidate will be passionate about plants and commited toreducing the impact of agriculture on the environment.The Technology Development group at Azotic Technologies develops microbial products forsustainable horticulture and agriculture that reduces the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides,while enhancing plant vigour and yield.The multidisciplinary team• evaluates the plant growth promoting properties of engineered and wild type microbes,• elucidate their colonisation of different plants by microbes using microscopy and dPCR, and• quantify the effect of microbes on the physiology, morphology, yield and yield componentsof horticultural and agricultural crops.Plants are cultivated in the lab, glasshouses and controlled environments (including vertical farmhydroponics and aeroponics) in optimum and stressed (nutrients, temperature, salt, water)conditions.Company:Azotic Technologies Ltd is a dynamic cutting-edge Biotech company specialising in the developmentand commercialisation of novel biologicals for the agricultural sector.We are a global innovator in agricultural Biological Nitrogen-Fixation (BNF) and are currentlyexpanding our commercial microbial product portfolio into markets in the US, Europe and Asia. Ourtechnology fixes nitrogen within non-leguminous crops thereby providing enhanced yield and planthealth, savings on nitrogen fertiliser, all with reduced environmental impact.With sites in the UK and North America, we are a rapidly developing company with a unique productportfolio and an exciting product pipeline beyond Nitrogen-fixation.Azotic has just completed a new Technical Development Centre close to York (UK) to house 20-30scientists and administrative staff. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic people to join uson our exciting journey to enhance global food security.Main Responsibilities:• Conduct plant cultivation experiments in compost, hydroponics and aeroponics systems.• Sampling of plants and processing of samples for DNA/mRNA extraction or metaboliteanalysis.• Quantification of nucleic acids via different PCR (dPCR, RT-PCR) methods.Company Registration Number: 7925932 | Registered Office: Unit 6 Hassacarr Close, Chessingham Park, Dunnington, York, England, YO19 5SN• Record plant physiological measurements (such as chlorophyll, NDVI, carotenoids) duringcultivation.• Measure morphological traits of plants during cultivation (destructive sampling).• Maintain microbial cultures and prepare microbial cultures for plant experiments.• Implementation and modification of protocols.General responsibilities• Assisting in the day-to-day running of the laboratory and other plant growing facilities,including the care and maintenance of equipment in the plant lab and controlledenvironment facility.• Maintaining Health and Safety records and developing risk assessments for new and existingprotocols.• Maintaining good records and laboratory notebooks of work carried out, including providingdata to other members of the research group.• Providing flexible technical support to members of the research group based on their needs.• Preparing, collating and presenting data to members of the research group at groupmeetings.Qualifications:Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences, Plant Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, EnvironmentalScience, Microbiology or relevant field OR a Foundation degree (FdSc)/Level 5 Diploma/T-level/BTECfrom an Agricultural University in Crop Production.In lieu of formal qualifications, 5+ years’ experience in cultivating plants in Industry or ResearchInstitutes in protected horticulture, field trials or crop production/crop protection will also beconsidered.Benefits:• Employee Assistance Programme• Company Pension (10% Employer Contribution)• Life Insurance• Private Medical Care• Employee Benefits Programme• Performance-related bonus