Insectary Lead, Entomologist

ABOUT GREENLIGHT

At GreenLight we are working to solve two of the world's greatest problems: global food insecurity and equal access to vaccines and the associated health benefits. Unlike most corporations who can be required to put profits ahead of other principles, GreenLight is one of the first Public Benefit Corporations to be publicly traded and have a charter that requires a focus on how it benefits its employees, community and society and has a broad portfolio addressing key issues in plant health and human health (Nasdaq: GRNA) by leveraging the full potential of dsRNA and mRNA. The GreenLight team is a  little over 260 people across our headquarters in Lexington, MA, an R&D facility and an R&D facility in Research Triangle Park, NC. GreenLight also has a biomanufacturing plant in Rochester, NY. Initiatives include finding ways to support biodiversity, protect bees and other pollinators, treat rare diseases as well as develop vaccines.

At GreenLight, we believe inclusion is the way forward. We celebrate the power of working together to address humanity’s challenges, meet the needs of underserved populations, and push the boundaries of scientific discovery. Fueled by our aspiration for a true sense of belonging, our talented teams embody the principles of diversity and equality as we strive to bring food security, medicine, and healthcare to everyone—paving the way for a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.greenlightbio.com.

GreenLight Biosciences is seeking an exceptional Research Associate to join our Discovery Biology team. The Insectary Lead will be expected to coordinate live insects needs with teams at GreenLight, provide recommendations on insect requests, and rear multiple species of high-quality insects. The Insectary Lead will also be responsible for developing and optimizing rearing protocols for various species and troubleshooting issues in the insectary. Maintaining equipment and inventory for the insectary will also be part of the responsibilities. Additional tasks may include general laboratory techniques to assist with insect and/or fungal bioassays in the lab when needed.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Rear and maintain colonies of multiple orders of arthropods (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Tetranychidae, and others)
• Coordinate and fulfill insect requests from other GreenLight teams and make recommendations on insect use
• Work with scientist lead to develop and optimize rearing protocols
• Maintain insect diet inventories and rearing equipment
• Independently perform routine laboratory techniques such as pipetting, preparing dilutions, microscopy
• Assist with the development and optimization of high throughput screening assays for activity of novel compounds when needed
• Maintain detailed records of rearing/experimental protocols, procedures, and collected data using Microsoft Office, Teams, and/or electronic lab notebook (ELN)
• Work collaboratively with other team members to accomplish project goals and milestones
• Ensure safe laboratory operations and a safety-focused work culture

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 2 years of experience in an industrial insectary
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with insects
• Experience maintaining insect colonies of a diversity of species to fulfill multiple insect requests of various stages, quantities, and deadlines
• Experience developing and optimizing rearing protocols for various arthropod species

• Must be able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events and be comfortable with a fast-paced, challenging environment.

• Outstanding attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Capable of managing competing priorities and timelines
• Utilize problem-solving skills to adapt to unforeseen challenges
• Excellent execution and follow through skills
• Willingness to cross-train on other teams for large collaborative projects and assistance as needed
• Efficient time management for individual and team activities

EDUCATION 

• Bachelor's degree in entomology, biology, or related field

Greenlight Biosciences Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

GreenLight requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination for its employees.