Senior Scientist, Plant Pathology

Plenty

420

Laramie, WY, United States

Posted on: 2023-06-15

Category: food

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Expired

Employment type:

Full time

Experience required:

Senior

Salary

Salary not provided

About the company:

Plenty is a new kind of farm for a new kind of world. We’re on a mission to bring healthy food to the world while protecting the environment. Our pesticide-free, non-GMO leafy greens taste fresh-picked from the garden because they were. We grow and deliver locally, cutting transportation miles and reducing emissions. Plenty’s indoor farms mean fresh produce is always in season.

We are a team of growers, plant scientists, engineers, artists, foodies and plant romantics working to improve the lives of plants, people, and the planet. We currently operate in South San Francisco, CA, and Laramie, WY. Our new Compton, CA site set to open in 2021 will be the world’s first, high-capacity indoor vertical farm.

Plenty believes food justice is social justice. Equal access to healthy, nutritious food is fundamental to a quality life. We build farms in communities that need better access to food and jobs. Plenty provides living-wage, year-round jobs along with flavorful, nutrient-rich food to the communities we serve. We use automation and robotics so machines do the backbreaking labor while people perform new kinds of skilled agricultural, science and high-tech jobs.

Now is the time to help Plenty achieve its mission to feed the world healthy food in a sustainable way. We are a start-up with expanding career growth opportunities.

We are actively seeking those who embody our core values: find a way, down to earth, & grow together. These values guide how we work together as teammates, approach innovation and engage with customers. Does this sound like you? Join the mission as we improve human and planetary health by increasing access to craveable fruits and vegetables.

About Plenty

Plenty is on a mission to make fresh, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables more accessible to everyone. Our cutting-edge indoor, vertical farms produce extraordinary yields using a fraction of the land and water outdoor farms need. Nutrient-rich, mouth-watering and locally grown, our crops help people, communities and our planet to be healthier and more resilient.

The people and teams who make up Plenty are at the core of how we do this. We are a collaborative and innovative bunch. We are passionate about our contributions to Plenty, the communities around us and our planet, but never take ourselves too seriously. We’re down to Earth, we grow together, and we always find a way. Most importantly, we’re here to improve the lives of plants, people and our planet.

About the role

Plenty is looking for a Senior Scientist to lead our Plant Pathology activities in the Department of Plant Science. The Plant Pathology team develops applied diagnostic capabilities and drives research for improved plant health in support of commercial production and crop development programs. In this role, you will be responsible for the plant disease diagnosis for leafy greens, herbs, fruit, and vegetable crops including assay development, data generation, interpretation, and translation of the results to stakeholders. This role is also responsible for leading and analyzing relevant research projects associated with plant health, pathogen management, and system microbiology.

What you'll do

Cross-functional applied research and operations management in the areas of plant disease diagnosis, pathogen detection and identification and integrated disease management
Guiding plant scientists, growers and food safety experts to design and manage growing systems per business need and compliant with regulations
Build and lead plant pathology team in analyzing, researching and responding to plant pathology issues on and around the farm
Guide food safety as they audit, analyze and design the most food-safe farms in the history of agriculture
Interact closely with other scientists within the Department of Plant Science, Engineering, Product, and Farm Operations to translate scientific findings into farm design and operation
Plan research, budget and manage resources to make Plant Pathology team and the laboratory effective
Shape a culture of collaboration, creativity, and innovative thinking by leading engagement with other non-science teams
Travel less than 10% of the time

What you'll bring to the table

PhD in plant pathology or microbiology and at least 5 years industry experience in research and management roles preferred, or MS and at least 10 years experience
Experience applied plant pathology and molecular biology techniques (PCR, qPCR, ELISA, metagenomics, and relevant techniques) in food related industry
Experience setting up and/or running plant pathology diagnostic lab with local (county and state-level) and federal (USDA) required permits
Experience, passion and excitement in the greenhouse or indoor growing space
Basic knowledge of hydroponic farm systems and how they contribute to systems microbiology
Comfort and effectiveness in leading managing and influencing diverse teams
Creative thinking around problem solving, flexibility, and comfort dealing with evolving problems
Data-driven
Exceptional communication skills
The ability to confidently interact with executives, senior managers, executives, board members, and investors
Self-driven, and capable of driving projects with minimal oversight
Eagerness to work in a hyper-growth environment
A passion for food, intellectual curiosity, and bias for action

Type of role

Full-Time, Onsite

What we can offer

Compensation; we’ll pay you a competitive salary, give you a stake in the company via equity and contribute toward your 401K
Health & well-being; we’ll invest in your physical and mental well-being with comprehensive medical, dental, & vision benefits, in-office gyms, and an Employee Assistance Program to help with mental health, financial & legal matters
Food; in-office lunches, snacks and access to our leafy greens & new produce in development -- are you up for a side gig as a taste tester?
Grow together; learning & development opportunities including unlimited access to our Upstart University platform, LinkedIn Learning, lunch & learns, training certifications, and more
Equipment; we’ll provide you with the equipment you need to be successful, including $75/month toward your phone bill and $250 every 2 years to upgrade your phone
Paid time off; we know you’ll do your best if you’re taking time to recharge, so we don’t cap the amount of days you can take off per year in addition to the paid holidays we observe
Parental leave; 12 weeks off for all new parents - fully paid so you can focus your energy on your newest addition