Plant Lab Technician

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 stable transformation team. The right candidate will be extremely proficient in basic lab techniques and procedures. Plant experience is a major plus. 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:

• Plant transformation and tissue culture
• Plant line maintenance and propagation
• Sterile/aseptic technique
• Bacterial culture
• Media preparation
• Plant health monitoring and response
• Autoclave utensils and labware
• Experiment design: determining suitable controls and analysis.
• Creating reproducible standard protocols and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Working with other scientists to develop standard operating procedures.
• Executing protocols to aid in an understanding of the properties of lipids and proteins.

Requirements:

• B.S. degree in  plant biology, microbiology, chemistry, or a related field (or the equivalent experience in an academic laboratory).
• Experience in a bioscience research lab.
• Experience with sterile technique
• 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 CA
   

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off 
   

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

Reports To: Genetics Manager

Job Type: Full-time

Work authorization: United States (Required)