Plant Tissue Culture Technician

Lab Technician: Plant Tissue Culture

Job Title: Lab Technician I

Location: Los Angeles, CA

About Mozza:

Mozza is an early-stage biotech startup working on two of the most-pressing issues of our time: climate change and animal welfare. We are engineering plants to produce bovine milk proteins, making real dairy without cows. Our dairy-identical, cow-free casein will be used to make indistinguishable products that are cheaper than and have a fraction of the environmental impact of traditional dairy. Our research lab facility is located in downtown Los Angeles and we’re actively looking to expand our team.

Job Description:

We are looking for a lab technician for our plant transformation and tissue culture team. The right candidate will be extremely proficient in basic lab techniques and procedures. Cell culture or experience with plant tissue is a plus, but not required. You will be assisting in the design, research set-up and execution of experiments that require a high-level of attention and diligence. You will be required to calibrate and handle sensitive equipment, work in and manage sterile environments, assist with ordering and maintaining lab supplies, and report and record experimental procedures and findings in meticulous detail. Our research techniques change in response to new findings, so the right candidate must be flexible and adept at learning new skills as our research evolves.​

If you have lab experience, are passionate about changing how the world feeds itself, and you want to be a direct contributor to positive change for the environment and animal welfare, then this job may be right for you.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Genetic engineering of plant tissue, plant transformation, and tissue culture
• Plant line maintenance and propagation
• Sterile/aseptic technique
• Bacterial culture and transformation
• Media preparation
• Plant health monitoring and analysis
• Creating reproducible standard protocols and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Working with other scientists to develop standard operating procedures. 

Requirements:

• B.S. degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry, or a related field.
• Experience in an academic biology, chemistry, or physics research lab.
• Experience with sterile technique
• Experience with bacterial or mammalian cell culture 
• Experience with in vitro plant tissue culture is a plus
• Ability to meticulously perform intricate and delicate experiments.
• Ability to keep accurate, organized records and maintain an electronic notebook.
• Ability to clearly organize and archive samples.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with other members of the project.
• Ability to meet agreed upon deadlines, manage time effectively and work efficiently.
• Ability to coordinate and participate in standard lab upkeep.
• Strong basic math skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Passion for learning and contributing to a game-changing project.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Applicants must be able to commute daily and work from our laboratory located in downtown Los Angeles

Benefits:

• Medical insurance
• Paid time off 
• 401k
• Stock options

Given the delicate nature of working with plants and running time-sensitive experiments, weekend and after hour work may be required regularly. 

Job Type: Full-time 

Work authorization: United States (Required)