We are looking for a motivated core team member to work on Phytoform crop development pipeline with focus on potatoes.
The Company
Phytoform is a UK based company working on improving crop varieties with the help of new breeding technologies and artificial intelligence. We are a multidisciplinary team looking to enhance crop species to be in pair with a sustainable future. We are at a pivotal time in the agri-tech industry where the projects developed today in this sector will define the world of tomorrow. The company is currently in the seeding stage with exciting growth plans over the next few years and is looking for a talented plant scientist to join our potato R&D team and work on the current genome engineering projects as well as help develop future ones.
The Role
We are looking to increase our wet lab R&D capabilities by opening a genome engineer position. The genome engineer will use their experience to support the potato genome engineering team and be working alongside other scientists to develop CRISPR varieties of commercially relevant varieties. If you have previously been part of an academic or industry team, but now would like to work in a fast-paced start-up environment to see reaworld impact first hand then you would be a great fit.
You will:
- Contribute to the development of new potato traits in commercial varieties
- Design and validate CRISPR targets in vitro and in vivo.
- Develop transient transfection methods to induce CRISPR mutations using RNPs.
- Work in a sterile environment and maintain plant tissue cultures.
- Isolate protoplasts and regenerate whole plants from single cells.
- Perform a range of molecular tasks such as DNA isolation and cloning.
- Genotype individuals and populations via PCR and NGS.
- Phenotype and validate new genome edited traits in crops.
- Keep a well-organised record of all data and results electronically.
- Present and discuss your strategies and advancements to your manager and team.
Requirements
- PhD in Plant Biology or a related subject (Molecular Biology; Biotechnology; etc).
- Experience with culture of plant tissues.
- Knowledge of gene editing technologies.
- Experience in the generation of gene editing in crop plants.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and capabilities to follow and develop protocols.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Track record of application driven research.
- Goal oriented and with good time management and multitasking capability.
- Ability to work in a results-driven team.
- Share our passion for sustainability and vision of a future where genetic engineering plays a key role in improving the resilience of global food systems.
You get extra points if you:
- Experience with CRISPR-driven genome editing in potato varieties.
- Experience with footprint-free RNP or plasmid-based genome editing.
- Have previously worked with gene editing of protoplasts.
- Available to start in May 2023.
What we offer
- Competitive salary.
- Share of value youcreate through Employee Stock Option Plan.
- Private medical insurance.
- Great working environment in a multidisciplinary team.
- A flexible working arrangement: early or late working with core hours of 10am-4pm.
- Possibility of working from home when compiling and analysing data.
- Access to a gym & tennis courts.
- Cycle to work scheme.
If you are looking for a new challenge and like working with a small multidisciplinary team where new ideas are welcome, then we would love to meet you!
