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Research Associate

Location: Alvin, TX (Houston area) or Ames, IA (with travel to and from)

Travel: Up to 50% (periodic, up to 2 weeks at a time)

About PowerPollen

PowerPollen is revolutionizing agriculture through innovative pollen preservation and application technology. Our patented approach is transforming how crops are pollinated at scale, driving improvements in cross-pollination efficiency and accelerating the development of large-scale commercial applications.

The Opportunity

Join our Biology team as we scale PowerPollen's technology for rice pollen programs. You'll bridge research and commercial execution, driving collaboration across teams while advancing the science that makes large-scale field applications possible.

What makes this role exciting:

• Advance cutting-edge pollen preservation technology from lab to field

• Work at the intersection of plant reproductive biology and commercial agriculture

• Lead field operations and manage research teams during critical testing periods

• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to solve complex agricultural challenges

What You'll Do

Scientific Leadership

• Support development of rice pollen and pollination technologies for large-scale deployment

• Contribute to the design and execution of experiments that advance understanding of pollen-plant tissue interactions

• Generate, analyze, and synthesize data to inform process enhancements and commercial strategies

• Develop protocols with external research teams to expand knowledge of plant reproductive physiology

Operations Management

• Manage research personnel at agricultural testing sites and laboratory crews during commercial execution

• Oversee lab, growth chamber, and field activities to facilitate technology scaling

• Maintain safe testing processes with robust control strategies

• Support program leadership with insights, lessons learned, and resolution proposals

Collaboration & Innovation

• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to improve efficiency and reliability of commercial activities

• Contribute to identifying and implementing new research directions

• Prepare technical reports and methods documentation to support timely commercial application development

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences with minimum 3 years of industry experience (Master's degree may substitute for experience)

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams

• Strong organizational skills with ability to multitask, prioritize, and adapt to meet shifting goals

• Detail-oriented, data-driven problem solver who sees barriers as opportunities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to train others

• Capability to build positive relationships with stakeholders and reach mutually beneficial outcomes

Preferred Qualifications

• Formal training and research experience in breeding or pollination technologies for agricultural crops

• Skilled in agricultural practices including field crop management and controlled environment facilities

• Previous experience managing teams and crews, including employees and contract labor

Working Environment

This role operates across diverse environments from controlled laboratory settings to active agricultural fields. Expect to work in outdoor conditions that may include extreme heat, humidity, and insect presence. Physical demands include lifting up to 50 pounds, walking on uneven terrain, and extended periods of standing or walking during peak seasons.

The ideal candidate thrives in both indoor lab conditions and outdoor agricultural settings year-round.

Why PowerPollen

• Work on technology that's transforming global agriculture

• Contribute to sustainable farming practices that improve crop yields and farmer profitability

• Collaborate with passionate scientists and commercial experts

• Make direct impact on research that scales to real-world agricultural applications

Work Authorization

This position requires authorization to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor work visas at this time.