Plant Health Research Technician

Do you want to work for a company with engaged and passionate employees who lean in everyday?

Now, imagine working for a company where you can positively impact the health and growth of all living things while protecting the environment.

That's what the employees of Acadian Seaplants are proud to do each and every day. For Twenty consecutive years, Acadian Seaplants Limited has secured the designation as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies! In fact, Acadian Seaplants has achieved Platinum Status for the past nine years!

Profile:

The primary objective of the Research Technician is to support the research and development activities of the Acadian Plant Health Research Team in Cornwallis NS, and the development of agricultural biostimulants. In this role, you will support research on existing and new seaweed extract based biostimulants. You come with proven experience in implementing plant-based experiments from conception to data analysis using known techniques as well as having experience in plant growth assays. This role is based in our Cornwallis, NS Craigie Research Center and is an onsite role.

Your Role:

• Perform studies in a safe, precise and methodical manner, following SOP's and Methods
• Contribute to and encourage Near Miss submissions to foster a culture of safety
• Work with the Research Manager and Plant Scientists to ensure plant material is available for studies
• Work to the principles of GLP in writing study plans, reports, and methods
• Assist with the establishment and maintenance of healthy, uniform plants for experimental use.
• Work with research leads to identify targeted plant responses and mode of action in order to design assays to determine efficacy and mode of action of plant biostimulants, including physiological and phenological effects
• Identify and collect pertinent data on plant growth and stress parameters
• Assist with activities involved in the running and maintenance of the controlled environment, greenhouse, and small plot field trial facilities
• Assist in designing and conducting studies to document and understand the ability of the company's products to improve plant health, including improved growth parameters, photosynthesis, yield and quality, stress resistance and nutrient uptake.
• Maintain a high level of accuracy, precision and productivity in performing all tasks.
• Work with the Method Development Scientist to adapt methods from literature for routine in-house testing of existing and new Acadian Plant Heath products
• Conduct experiments to document mode of action and efficacy
• Use all available resources, including (but not limited to) high-throughput phenotyping, growth chamber, controlled environments rooms, greenhouses and outdoor sites, to implement short term studies that look at ingredient, product, and formulation rates and efficacy.
• Enter study data into a corporate database, produce graphs, and conduct statistical analysis to allow for interpretation of the results.

Qualifications/Competencies:

• Ability to help train and supervise co-op students and other employees
• Experience in fundamental and applied research on crop plants and greenhouse/outdoor plant production
• Experience in plant nutrition, plant physiology, plant propagation, molecular biology, metabolomics, and/or plant biochemistry desired
• Experience and training in basic lab techniques and experimental design, data analysis and procedures.
• Undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Plant Science, Biology, Biochemistry or a related subject
• Capable of performing physically demanding tasks and working in an outdoor environment.
• Effective observational skills and good time management skills are important, as is the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Eager to learn and positive attitude
• Individual must be flexible, adaptable and versatile with a willingness to tackle anything
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and specialty computer programs to enter and graph data, produce presentations, and conduct statistical analysis.

If this job sounds like it was made for you, we'd like to meet you. To further explore this opportunity, just submit your resume to Steve Empringham by clicking "Apply Now"

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.