Research Associate I – Plant Bioassays

Pivot Bio is seeking a Research Associate I for Plant Bioassays in St. Louis, MO. The role involves conducting greenhouse and controlled environment assays to evaluate microbial nitrogen-fixing technologies. Responsibilities include optimizing experimental assays, maintaining microbial cultures, and analyzing data. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and experience in greenhouse research. This position is onsite and offers competitive benefits and stock options.
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




#LI-Onsite

All remote positions and those not located in our Berkeley facility are paid based on National Benchmark data. Following employment, growth beyond the hiring range is possible based on performance.

Hiring Compensation Range$26.54—$33.17 USD
Job posting details for Research Associate I – Plant Bioassays at Pivot Bio in St. Louis, MO. Compensation / salary range: $26.54—$33. ClimateTechList gathers 9,000+ job openings from over 523 climate tech companies and updates them daily.