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 a 6 month Temporary position and onsite at our Creve Coeur, MO 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