Student Research Assistant-Crop Biotechnology

The Crop Biotechnology lab at University of Florida, headed by Fredy Altpeter is seeking a highly motivated student research assistant with experience in plant tissue culture and project management to join our team. The research program focuses on genetic improvement of grasses by biotech approaches including genome editing, RNAi, over-expression of genes using the “plants as factories” concept in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Research Center https://cabbi.bio/research/feedstocks-theme/; https://cabbi.bio/sweet-success-cabbi-demonstrates-first-precision-breeding-of-sugarcane-with-crispr-cas9/

The successful candidate is goal oriented and enjoys multi-tasking in a fast paced environment and will use well established tissue culture and gene transfer protocols for the introduction of vectors similar in scope to our recent publications: https://doi.org/10.3389/fgeed.2021.673566;  https://doi.org/10.3389/fgeed.2021.654996;https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/biot.202000650; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/biot.202100237

Examples of specific tasks: initiating and monitoring plant tissue cultures under aseptic conditions, preparation of culture media, gene transfer to plants and bacteria, selection and regeneration of transgenic and gene edited plants, transfer of tissue culture derived plants to soil, using and monitoring laboratory instrumentation, collecting and handling samples from greenhouse or field grown plants, DNA isolation, PCR, electrophoresis, extensive documentation, project review, report preparation.

$11.00 - $12.00 hourly (20 hours per week) commensurate with relevant experience and education.

Previous experience with laboratory work. Exceptional performance skills such as self-motivation, attention to detail, honesty, dependability and adaptability.

This position is open to all students who are eligible to work on campus and will be employed through student Other Personnel Services (OPS) and must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Registered students are employed on a part-time basis, up to 20 hours per week.

BS student in plant science or related discipline.

Application review will begin immediately. 

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This position has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply.