Job Title: Lab Assistant
Job Description
Perform day-to-day greenhouse and growth chamber activities including planting, pollinating, tissue sampling, pest/disease scouting, harvesting, threshing, discarding, chamber sanitation, general plant care, data collection, data entry, facility cleanliness, and maintaining safety standards. This role involves working within a greenhouse facility and does not include lab work. Responsibilities also include collecting tissue samples from soybean plants for DNA analysis, watering, potting soil, and caring for all plants in the growth chamber, replanting samples after data review, assisting in operating the soybean threshing machine, plating samples to be tested by the Molecular Marker group, cleaning the facility, and other basic duties as assigned. Additional tasks include plant maintenance such as trimming, training, and node cleaning, cross-pollinating, plant discard, and working with soybean, wheat, pollen, and dust.
Hard Skills
- Horticulture
- Greenhouse
- Plant Care
Work Site
This is a fully on-site position in Johnston, Iowa.
Work Environment
Work in a large, climate-controlled facility with 32 growth chambers where soybean plants grow inside. The conditions are managed to ensure optimal growth, avoiding exposure to external elements. This is a physical job that requires standing on your feet for 8 hours a day and occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds. The role involves a lot of repetitive motion, particularly working with tweezers. The growth chambers maintain a temperature of 80-85 degrees and sunny conditions, so comfort working in warm environments is necessary. The dress code is casual, with jeans, work-appropriate shirts, and close-toed shoes required. This is an open-ended, long-term contract opportunity with typical hours of Monday-Friday from 7 AM to 3:30 PM, totaling 35-40 hours per week. Weekend and potential holiday work may be required, with expected weekend shifts occurring 2 out of every 5 weeks. Weekend hours are 9 AM-1 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. Flexible scheduling is provided, including half days off during the week leading up to and following weekend work.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I are embedded into our culture through:
- Hiring diverse talent
- Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
- Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
- Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.