Insectary Associate

GreenLight Biosciences maintains several arthropod species in a dedicated insectary at our RTP research location. We are seeking an Insectary Associate to join our Discovery Biology team. This person will work alongside our Insectary Lead, 20-30 h/wk with occasional weekend and/or holiday work (2-3 h). The Insectary Associate will perform routine colony maintenance, such as counting and transferring arthropods, replacing plant material, and cleaning cages. They will learn to identify several arthropod species and their life stages and learn about their biology. This is an excellent opportunity to experience life in a biotech startup!

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

· Assist with maintenance and care of colonies of multiple orders of arthropods (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Tetranychidae, and others)

· Monitor colonies for health and proactively report potential issues to the lead

· Prepare insect diet and rearing materials

· Identify life stages of arthropods using a microscope

· Help with fulfilling insect requests from other GreenLight teams

· Ensure safe laboratory operations and a safety-focused work culture

· Operate under APHIS containment guidelines for regulated organisms

· Part-time, 20-30 h/wk

· Occasional weekend and/or holiday work (2-3 h)

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

· Experience working with insects and plants in a laboratory environment

· Demonstrated ability to pay close attention to detail

· Motivated to work as part of a dynamic and diverse team

· Enthusiasm to learn with an open mind

· Ability to communicate with and adapt to the needs of stakeholders

· Strong interest in hands-on work and practical problem solving

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

· Bachelor's degree in biology, entomology, animal sciences, or relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and insectary experience

· Coursework in an arthropod or ecological related field

· Monitoring abiotic and biotic factors in biological systems

· Experience maintaining biological organisms for multiple generations