Research Associate I – Plant Bioassays

About Pivot Bio:  

Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of microbiology, genomics, crop nutrition and agriculture, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in fertilizer technology. Our first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes, modern gene editing and application technologies to provide nitrogen to crops.  We are dedicated to providing new solutions for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population. Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour.

Reporting to the Plant Bioassay Team Lead, the successful candidate will support the execution and development of greenhouse and controlled environment plant assays evaluating the performance of Pivot Bio’s microbial nitrogen-fixing technologies. The team’s key objective is to generate high-quality, reproducible in-planta data that supports candidate advancement, product characterization, and field performance prediction. This role will contribute to the development and scaling of plant assay workflows, microbial screening pipelines, and experimental data generation to support product innovation and validation. 

 This role is onsite at our St Louis, MO (Creve Coeur) location.

Essential functions 

• Conduct and support execution of in planta assays in greenhouse and growth chamber environments with minimal supervision 
• Support the scaling, optimization, and standardization of experimental assays to enable higher-throughput biological discovery pipelines 
• Grow, plate, quantify, and maintain microbial cultures using aseptic technique and standard microbial enumeration methods 
• Collect, accurately record, and analyze experimental and phenotypic data using LIMS or structured electronic data capture systems 
• Attend and present data in R&D meetings and contribute to experimental planning and troubleshooting discussions 
• Maintain detailed experimental records and support development or refinement of assay SOPs  

Competencies 

Knowledge & Application 

• Understanding of plant physiology, development, and stress responses 
• Familiarity with plant phenotyping approaches and greenhouse plant management 
• Basic statistical analysis and data interpretation 

Complexity & Problem Solving 

• Strong attention to detail with demonstrated ability to accurately document and reproduce experimental workflows 
• Applies scientific reasoning to interpret unexpected results 

 Collaboration & Interaction 

•  Strong problem-solving and team collaboration skills   
•  Excellent communication skills and ability to work independently 

Required Education & Experience 

• Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Plant Science, Agronomy, Microbiology, or related field 
• Hands-on experience greenhouse/growth chamber research (industry or academic research experience acceptable) 
• Experience with plant-microbe interactions or microbial culturing techniques is preferred but not required 

Must be authorized to work in the United States 

What We Offer: 

• Competitive package in a disruptive startup 
• Stock options 
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance with employer-paid premiums 
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability policies 
• Employee Assistance Program with free referrals and discounts 
• 401(k) plan, 3% Match 
• Commuter benefits 
• Annual Training & Development support 
• Flexible vacation policy with a generous holiday schedule 
• Exciting opportunity to work with a talented and fun team

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