Research Associate, Delivery & Transformation (Contract)

Company Summary:

Terrana Biosciences is one of the latest companies founded through Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Inc. and Invaio Sciences were conceived and created. Since Flagship’s founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of nearly 100 scientific ventures resulting in $90 billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents, and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents. Terrana Biosciences is integrating the latest developments in molecular biology and plant biology to create a new platform technology that enables adaptive, targeted and sustainable solutions in agriculture.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated contract Research Associate to join our Delivery and Transformation team. The role requires a strong practical background in plant science, plant pathology, molecular biology, and microbiology. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in developing cutting-edge techniques for plant transformation in diverse plant systems. The successful candidate will be highly organized and comfortable working as an integral member of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. Excellent communication, record-keeping, and teamwork skills will be critical. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Work with a team of scientists to innovate, optimize, and execute various plant delivery and transformation methods. 
  • Support the design and execution of plant transformation experiments across multiple platforms and species.
  • Sample plants for molecular assays used as experimental readouts. 
  • Troubleshoot transformation protocols, solving difficult experimental problems, and proposing solutions related to transformation methods and bioassays. 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • BS in Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline 
  • Minimum of 1 year professional laboratory experience with experience working in industry a plus.

Additional Qualifications:

  • Experience with common plant transformation methods, including biolistic and Agrobacterium approaches.  
  • Expertise in handling plant tissues and sampling plants for assays. 
  • Experience with DNA, RNA, and protein isolation and purification. 
  • Experience with RNA-related workflows and RNA-protein interaction is a plus. 
  • Hands-on experience with bacterial, fungal, and/or viral pathogens in economically important crops a plus. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with a diverse interdisciplinary team. 
  • Demonstrated organizational and record-keeping skills.  
  • Enthusiasm for science and willingness to adapt to the changing needs of a fast-paced research and development effort. 
  • Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new techniques, efficiently troubleshoot lab protocols, and manage multiple experimental workflows.
  • A strong self-starter, results-oriented with strong attention to detail. 

Location: Raleigh/Durham, NC

About Flagship

Flagship Pioneering is a bioplatform innovation company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies, and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

At Flagship, we recognize there is no perfect candidate. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. Experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your unique background.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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