Hiring lab manager (maybe you?!)

The RFC Lab is hiring!  We’re looking for an experienced lab manager to run samples, improve our process and develop new methods and interface with the community.  At a minimum we need technical skills required for this position (wet chem, lab safety + process, lab + people management, etc. etc  .), but ideally we’d like someone passionate about food and soil quality and the mission of the RFC and who enjoys interfacing with our Data Partners and the farmers/gardeners sending samples in.

If you’re that person, apply!!!  If not, please pass this announcement along!  The position can start as soon as Sept 21, but we could be persuaded to wait if they are the perfect candidate.

See full announcement below or link to PDF to share here –>

Lab Manager in soil/food quality startup

About the work

We (Our Sci – our-sci.net) are seeking a lab manager to run a soil and food testing lab for the Real Food Campaign (https://bionutrient.org/site/real-food-campaign) and Bionutrient Food Association.  The lab measures soil and food samples from across the united States to determine 1) the variation of nutritional density in our fresh produce supply and 2) how that variation relates to soil health and farm practices.  In addition, Our Sci is committed to open data and open source technology development in all our work, and we are involved in other like-minded projects like GOSH (openhardware.science/), GOAT (goatech.org), and Yale’s Quick Carbon project (https://www.quickcarbon.org/) among others.

The opportunity

We are a startup that engages in a very diverse set of work, from food and soil testing in the lab, to designing/building/scaling handheld devices (colorimeter, soil respiration sensor, etc.), to web development.  You will be responsible for the lab, primarily running samples but also improving the process, identifying new methods, and communicating with the community and the development team. As such, you will be part of a broad network of organizations who are passionate about identifying the connections between food, soil and human health.

The work will vary – during the summer, you will be running a lot of samples.  During the winter, you will be developing new methods, improving processes, working with the community and with Our Sci devs to improve the software platform or test new equipment.

We are a small company, which means our future is flexible.  If you are persistent, hard working and creative, you will help define it with us!

The work

• Process samples, as they are received in the lab, and test antioxidants, polyphenols, proteins, and minerals using handheld XRF in food, as well as soil respiration and total organic carbon in soils.
• Identify ways to improve the lab process and allow us to increase our sample intake rate.
• Find and refine processes to measure new foods.
• Coordinating with others in the lab to support the full sample load.

What you bring

• Experienced in lab work, ideally nutritional or ag lab work, either in other labs or in current or past schooling.
• Careful but fast, capable of processing large numbers of samples with minimal errors.
• Can handle full days of tedious work, thoughtful work, and creative work (all will happen)
• Interest in identifying not only process problems, but suggesting clever solutions
• Able to balance many tasks – getting 2 or 3 things done at once is the norm 🙂
• Genuine interest in food quality, soil quality, and their impacts on communities.

Employment details

Full time, 6 months minimum.  $18 – $20/hr, depending on experience.

Desired Starting Date – Sept 21, 2018.  

TO APPLY, send a resume and cover letter to admin@our-sci.net, or call 919 545 1083.