Research Assistant (Greenhouse Trials & Insect Bioassays)

Research Assistant (Greenhouse Trials & Insect Bioassays)

Employment Type: Full Time (or part time), 1 year initial contract, with a 3-month probation

Salary: £26,000 to £30,000 a year (depending on experience), plus pension, benefits and generous share options

Starting: 1st October (some flexibility)

Company Overview

Insects are evolving resistance faster than new insecticides can launch. Tighter regulation has made it harder to get new synthetic actives approved, and the "natural" alternatives have yet to fill the gap. Pests still destroy up to 40% of crop yields.

At BugBiome we make crop protection products from microbes. We collect microbes from the environment and screen them, linking insect behaviour to microbial function so we can find the active strains that standard screening misses. If that's the sort of science you want to work on, we'd like to hear from you.

Role Summary

Do you like practical work with plants and insects, and want to work in an early-stage AgTech company?

We're looking for a practical scientist to run our greenhouse trials and to support the team on insect bioassays and field trials. You'll take our microbial bioinsecticides out of early lab work and into greenhouse and field testing. That's the stage where we find out whether a promising strain can protect a crop.

You'll work alongside our microbiologists, entomologists and data scientists. The data you collect is what we will use to decide which strains go forward.

The role suits someone who has recently finished a BSc or MSc, or who has some early lab or research assistant experience and wants to learn quickly in a small team.

Key Responsibilities

You'll set up, run and monitor greenhouse trials that test how well our microbial insecticides protect plants against insect pests. The work includes:

• Setting up and maintaining greenhouse experiments
• Caring for plants and monitoring plant health
• Maintaining and working with the insect populations used in our trials
• Running insect bioassays and applying experimental treatments
• Collecting accurate data and observations
• Keeping clear records and following experimental protocols
• Helping troubleshoot experiments and keeping trials running to schedule
• Working with the rest of the BugBiome science team on the data behind product development

We're a small company, so everyone pitches in. There'll be chances to help with other parts of our research too.

Who we're looking for

We're more interested in how you work than in how long you've worked. Curiosity, care with detail and reliability count for most here.

You'll ideally:

• Have recently completed a BSc or MSc in biology, plant science, entomology, microbiology or a related subject
• Enjoy practical, hands-on experimental work
• Be comfortable working with both plants and insects
• Record data accurately and notice when something looks wrong
• Be able to work on your own once you have been trained
• Be comfortable in a small team where plans change at short notice

Previous greenhouse, plant growth, insect handling or bioassay experience is useful. We'll train you in the rest.

Hours and contract

The role can be part-time or full-time, with hours agreed to suit the successful candidate. The first contract runs for a year, and we expect to continue it depending on the experimental programme and how things go on both sides.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a paid trial day in late September, so you can see what the work involves and we can meet you properly.

Why BugBiome?

• Ownership: run our bioinsecticide trials and see products through from discovery into the field
• Team: a small, mixed team of scientists who like practical work
• Facilities: greenhouse and lab space at Norwich Research Park
• Benefits: competitive salary, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, flexible hours, pension, share options and monthly team socials

Diversity Statement

BugBiome is an equal opportunity employer and we run a fair, inclusive recruitment process. Let us know if you have any particular requirements. The job is in Norwich and you'll need the right to work in the UK, as we're unable to sponsor visas.