Job Opening: Lab Technician
Description
We are seeking a detail-oriented and reliable Cotton Seed Laboratory Technician to join our agricultural testing facility. In this role, you will be responsible for preparing, testing, and analyzing fuzzy, processed, and carryover cottonseed samples. Your daily work will directly impact commercial product advancement, fit-for-sale quality decisions, and genetic purity compliance within the supply chain.
Key Responsibilities
- Sample Processing & Inspections: Receive, label, log, and safely store incoming truck and field seed samples according to chain-of-custody protocols. Perform visual physical quality inspections on raw and delinted seed.
- Viability & Vigor Testing: Set up and evaluate warm and cool germination tests, perform seed counts, and conduct vigor assays to forecast field emergence.
- Chemical & Compositional Analysis: Run analytical tests evaluating seed moisture levels, temperature, free fatty acids (FFA), pH, protein assays, and oil titrations.
- Genetic & Trait Verification: Assist with DNA isolation, PCR testing, and bioassays to verify GMO trait purity and detect adventitious presence.
- Equipment & Lab Maintenance: Calibrate, troubleshoot, and maintain precision lab equipment (e.g., automated seed counters, moisture meters, scales, and incubators).
- Data Logging: Input accurate testing metrics and analysis results into the laboratory information management system (LIMS) or corresponding databases.