Position Title: Gene Editing Production Lead
Location: South San Francisco, CA
Type: Full-time
Ohalo™ is seeking a motivated Gene Editing Production Lead to contribute to advancing plant variety development by leading the gene editing production line during a day or a night shift. The successful candidate will be creative and passionate about discovery, pushing science forward. Furthermore, the successful candidate will be well-organized, detail-oriented, and work independently as well as in a team environment. The candidate will spend approximately 80% of their time on plant tissue culture and regeneration and 20% on data management and analysis.
Responsibilities:
- Leading a gene editing production line during a day or a night shift
- Responsible for ensuring high work quality and performance of shift team
- Responsible for meeting shift team production metrics
- Responsible for shift member training
- Ensuring high shift team morale and engagement
- Protoplast Isolation, Transfection and Culture:
- Perform enzymatic digestion of plant tissues (e.g., leaf, root, or callus) to isolate viable protoplasts.
- Transfect protoplasts using PEG-mediated transfection or electroporation methods.
- Culture transfected protoplasts to regenerate callus
- Contribute to the continuous improvement and documentation of SOPs for protoplast workflows.
- Microscopy and Imaging:
- Assess protoplast yield, viability, and cell health using fluorescence and confocal microscopy and viability dyes (e.g., FDA staining).
- Data Recording and Analysis:
- Maintain accurate and detailed electronic lab notebooks (ELN) and batch records.
- Compile and analyze experimental data using tools such as ImageJ, GraphPad Prism, or Excel.
- Sample Preparation:
- Prepare samples for downstream molecular analyses, including RNA extraction, protein extraction, and genomic DNA isolation.
- Lab Maintenance and Compliance:
- Follow safety protocols and institutional guidelines for working with plant tissue and enzymes.
- Perform all tasks in a manner consistent with and in support of all company policies and practices related to safety and compliance.
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Callus Culture:
- Manage protoplast callus culture
- Identify regenerated plantlets to sample for molecular analysis
- Molecular Analysis:
- Analyze sequencing data, identifying regenerated plantlets to advance to greenhouse and field trials.
- Cross-Functional Support and Collaboration:
- Manage and collaborate with other Technicians, Research Associates, and Scientists on workflows, ensuring that critical processes are completed.
- Participate in planning and coordination meetings to align on timelines and resource needs
- Manage production timelines and resource needs
Qualifications:
- Ability to work day shift or night shift depends on operational needs. Shift will be discussed during the recruitment process, in advance of hiring.
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Microbiology, Plant Science, or related field with 2-3 years of experience OR a Master’s degree in Biology, Microbiology, Plant Science, or related field with 0-2 years of experience.
- Ability to accurately follow verbal and written instructions as well as make suggestions to optimize methodologies
- Ability to ask clarifying questions, articulate challenges, and suggest solutions
- Ability to sit for extended periods of time and do repetitive motions
- Ability to take a proactive approach to routine tasks
- Must be passionate about learning and enthusiastic about plants and hands-on work
- Must have a positive attitude and good interpersonal skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of plant science, plant breeding, and molecular biology
- Experience working in a lab including sterile technique, micropropagation, media preparation, microscopy, and DNA extraction
- Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Powerpoint and Word) OR Google Suite (Mail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drive)
Training and onboarding will occur in our Aptos, CA facility. This role will be permanently located in South San Francisco, CA.
The anticipated pay range for this role is $80K - $95K per year for our South San Francisco, CA location. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
About Ohalo Genetics:
Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com.
Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application.
No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time.
No recruiters, please.
