We are seeking a talented and inspired Lab Technician to become a key member of Alora’s team. As we embark on a mission to create a truly sustainable agriculture system the successful candidate will hold a pivotal role within Alora, developing the world’s first oceanic rice plants.

For this position, Alora is seeking someone who can perform plant cell culture, from callus tissue culture and subculture to stem cell differentiation and regeneration within their daily role. This could involve generating rice callus tissue from a new rice variety, followed by using these stem cells for either assessment of regenerative capacity or genetic-editing using a particle bombardment system to become salt-tolerant. A key eye for detail and observation is critical for the role. Being able to multitask with multiple ongoing and innovative experiments.

Alora is the Ocean Agriculture company, we have designed a way to grow crops in oceanic saltwater. Creating farms floating on the ocean to create truly sustainable agriculture. This is an exciting and dynamic position focused on the future of agriculture. We encourage everyone to bring a unique perspective and all their experience to this skilled role. The successful candidate will have an in-depth understanding of plant biology, that will ideally include plant tissue culture, development and physiology.

Rice is currently the core crop for Alora’s technology, but increasing this to include model organisms such as Brachypodium distachyon or other important crops such as soybean will be a priority.
Additional experimental opportunities include trials investigating diazotrophic nitrogen fixation and optimisation. This is a diverse and exciting role with plenty of opportunity.

We are a startup, born in Yorkshire, shaped in San Francisco, cultivated in Ontario, and returning proudly to our roots in the UK. To all motivated questioners ready to be part of the team working to solve world hunger we look forward to meeting you!

Salary Range: £16,900 - £26,000

Location: Norwich, onsite with occasional remote work

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On a day-to-day, responsibilities of the successful candidate will include:

• Perform weekly batches of callus induction from rice seed.
• Subculture high efficacy embryogenic rice calli.
• Refresh culture media for regenerating rice calli.
• Taking measurements and collecting data from calli, regenerating plantlets and assist, if necessary, in collecting data from glasshouse and aquarium trials.
• Collect tissue samples for RNA & DNA extraction.
• Cataloguing plants and samples for other team members to continue further experimental phases.
• Maintain and clean equipment.

Key requirements and skills include:

• Biosciences Bachelor's degree or similar, with a focus on plant biology, or equivalent experience.
• Affinity for cell culture, ideally with rice.
• Experience of working within a scientific team, bonus but non-essential if this was within a startup environment.
• Communication skills, both written and oral.
• Proficiency with data management and excel.
• A key eye for detail and multitasking with multiple ongoing experiments.
• An inspired imagination for improving upon concepts, designs & experimental procedures.

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Please send an email under the subject: "Tissue Culture Technician" to wave@alora.world, that includes your CV and either a cover letter or a link to an uploaded up to 2-minute video (either unlisted on YouTube, Google Drive, or similar) sharing why you are interested in ALORA and an introduction to why you are the right person for the role. We look forward to hearing from you!