Making agriculture sustainable.

The Company

Phytoform is a UK based company working on improving crop varieties with the help of new breeding technologies and artificial intelligence. We are a multidisciplinary team looking to enhance crop species to be in pair with a sustainable future. We are at a pivotal time in the agri-tech industry where the projects developed today in this sector will define the world of tomorrow. The company is currently in the seeding stage with exciting growth plans over the next few years. We are looking for a committed Lead Research Technician to support our R&D efforts with technical input, management of the tech support team and coordination of the use of plant growth R&D facilities.

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The Role

If you are looking for a fast-paced environment, new challenges and like working with a multidisciplinary team, then this job is for you. You will be responsible for management of our research technician team, plant growth oversight as well as being a hands-on technician. You will be responsible for the service delivery and all activities and outputs relating to the glasshouse and laboratory. If you have previously been part of an academic or industry team and have horticultural experience and would like to work in a start-up environment then you would be a great fit.

In this role you will:

●       Support our R&D teams with ownership of technical support tasks

●       Provide leadership of the technical support team including weekly & daily task management

●       Plan, Access and Track the use of controlled environment chambers and greenhouses& communicate with Rothamsted Research Horticulture team

●       Trackand maintain soil grown plants -Tomato, Potato and others

●       Trackand maintain sterile growth and tissue culture of Tomato, Potato and others

●       Deliveryof Plant RNA-seq sample collection experiments

●       Oversightand delivery of basic molecular biology protocols (Bacterial transformations,DNA minipreps & midipreps, glycerol stocks, etc.)

●       Oversightand preparation of custom media for plant tissue culture and general molecular biology

●       Laboratory stocks management (Lab consumables & Deliveries, Seeds, Plant material and custom plasmid and DNA) & communication with the Lab Manager

Requirements:

●       A minimum Msc in Plant Biology or a qualification in horticulture

●       2 years+ research experience in a biological laboratory.

●       Experience of managing staff and projects.

●       You will be an inspiring leader with strong interpersonal and organisational skills with the ability to organise the technical support team.

●       Experience of working with plants in both glasshouse and laboratory environments..

●       Experience in sterile working practices, preparing and maintaining media stocks.

●       Practical experience of research technician work including molecular biology protocols such as RNA and DNA extraction from plant tissues.

●       Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

●       Demonstratable numeracy skills.

●       Exceptional attention to detail, precision and accuracy, documentation skills and accurate record keeping.

●       Great organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise, organise and coordinate a range of tasks simultaneously.

●       The ability to follow and create written protocols and instructions.

●       A self-motivated, flexible and proactive approach to work, working under your own initiative, working during public holidays if required.

●       Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office Word and Excel. Experience with using laboratory management software (ELNs) and project management software (Asana or others).

●       A team player with an enthusiasm for working in a busy and evolving environment.

What we offer

●       Competitive salary

●       Share of value you create through Employee Stock Option Plan

●       Private Medical Insurance

●       Great working environment in a multidisciplinary team

●       A flexible working arrangement: early or late working with core hours of 10am-4pm

●       Possibility of working from home when compiling and analysing data

●       Access to a gym & tennis courts

●       Access to the cycle to work scheme

If you are looking for a new challenge and like working with a small multidisciplinary team where new ideas are welcome, then we would love to meet you!

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: Competitive

Ideal Start Date: July 2024

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About the job

The Company

Phytoform is a UK based company working on improving crop varieties with the help of new breeding technologies and artificial intelligence. We are a multidisciplinary team looking to enhance crop species to be in pair with a sustainable future. We are at a pivotal time in the agri-tech industry where the projects developed today in this sector will define the world of tomorrow. The company has exciting growth plans over the next few years and is looking for a talented plant scientist to join our tomato R&D team and work on genome engineering projects. We are based at the world leading plant scienceinstitute Rothamsted Research just outside of London, United Kingdom.

The Role

We are looking for a new member to increase the throughput of our tomato gene-editing pipeline. The genome engineer will use their experience to support the tomato genome engineering team and be working alongside other scientists to develop CRISPR-edited lines of commercially relevant varieties. If you have previously been part of an academic or industry team, but now would like to work in a fast-paced start-up environment to see real world impact first hand then you would be a great fit.

In this role, you will:

● Contribute to the development of non-transgenic CRISPR tomato varieties

● Design and validate in vitro and in vivo CRISPR-experiments for tomato

● Develop transient transfection methods to induce CRISPR mutations using RNPs.

● Work in a sterile environment and maintain plant tissue cultures.

● Isolate protoplasts and regenerate whole plants from single cells.

● Perform a range of molecular tasks such as DNA isolation and cloning.

● Genotype individuals and populations via PCR and NGS.

● Phenotype and validate new genome edited traits in crops.

● Keep a well-organised record of all data and results electronically.

● Present and discuss your strategies and advancements to your manager and team.

Requirements

● PhD in Plant Biology or MRes in Plant Biology & 3 years of relevant work experience

● Experience with culture of plant tissues.

● Knowledge of gene editing technologies.

● Experience in the generation of gene editing in crop plants.

● Excellent problem-solving skills and capabilities to follow and develop protocols.

● Strong communication and collaboration skills.

● Track record of application driven research.

● Goal oriented and with good time management and multitasking capability.

● Ability to work in a results-driven team.

● Share our passion for sustainability and vision of a future where genetic engineering plays a key role in improving the resilience of global food systems.

Beneficial but not essential:

● Experience with CRISPR-driven genome editing in Solanaceae

● Experience with footprint-free RNP or plasmid-based genome editing.

● Have previously worked with gene editing of protoplasts.

● Available to start in July 2024.

What we offer

● Competitive salary.

● Share of value you create through Employee Stock Option Plan.

● Private medical insurance.

● Great working environment in a multidisciplinary team.

● A flexible working arrangement: early or late working with core hours of 10am-4pm.

● Possibility of working from home when compiling and analysing data.

● Access to a gym & tennis courts.

● Cycle to work scheme.

If you are looking for a new challenge and like working with a small multidisciplinary team where new ideas are welcome, then we would love to meet you!

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The Company

Phytoform's mission is to deliver novel genetic crop solutions that radically improve the sustainability of the agricultural industry. Our game-changing platform can discover and implement new crop traits in timescales measured in months rather than decades. Our platform combines the power of cutting edge AI and novel genome editing technologies to understand and precisely edit plant DNA. Our multi-disciplinary team is driven by our commitment to deliver real world value to the food supply chain, from seed to consumers. Phytoform is a growing seed-stage company funded by world-class investors.

The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated US-based Crop Trait Licensing executive to lead the commercialization of our next generation products. You will work closely with the founders as a critical member of the management team to build and execute our commercial go to market strategy. This will include expanding markets for existing genetic trait assets, identifying new markets and providing feedback to our technical team on future products. Your strategic mindset, established network, exceptional negotiation skills and deep understanding of the agricultural industry will be instrumental in maximizing the value of our crop trait products.

Responsibilities:

• Commercial Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive licensing strategy to maximize the potential of our crop traits portfolio with close support from the founders.
• Market Analysis: Conduct market research and analysis to identify key market opportunities and potential licensees within the agricultural industry.
• Business Development: Identify and engage potential licensing partners, negotiate licensing agreements, and manage ongoing relationships with licensees.
• Team Building: Build out and manage Phytoform’s commercial team over time.
• Competitive Intelligence: Monitor industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to stay informed and identify new business opportunities.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with internal teams such as research and development, legal, marketing, and finance to ensure     seamless execution of licensing strategies.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with licensees, addressing their needs and ensuring successful adoption and     commercialization of licensed crop traits.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in agriculture, business, or a related field.
• Proven track record of 5-10 years in licensing or business development within the agricultural industry, preferably in crop traits or biotechnology.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities.
• A strong agricultural industry network globally with particularly close ties in the US.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property management, patent landscape, and licensing agreements.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills and a demonstrable ability to close deals.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong business relationships.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in market research and competitive analysis.
• Knowledge of agricultural markets, farming practices, and crop genetics.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

What we offer

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Attractive stock option package
• Full Health benefits plan contribution
• Rewarding environment working with a multi disciplinary team
• Flexible working hours

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Job Type: Full-time, permanent position.

This is a US-based remote role,  working in conjunction with our main headquarters in the UK.

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