Plant Tissue Culture Specialist

Job Title: Plant Tissue Culture Specialist

Department: Research

Reports To: Jason Downing/ Director of Research

Location: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden/ Zero Extinction Lab

Salary: Negotiated, Full-time salary (commensurate with experience), and benefits

ABOUT FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Founded in 1938, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is one of the world’s premier tropical botanic gardens, home to internationally recognized collections of cycads, flowering trees, tropical fruit, vines, aroids, and endangered plant species. Fairchild serves as a living laboratory for scientists and a place of discovery and inspiration for visitors of all ages. In addition to its scientific and conservation work, Fairchild hosts a variety of community events and experiences throughout the year, including the award-winning NightGarden, Chocolate Festival, Mango Festival, and more.

Job Summary

The Plant Tissue Culture Specialist will support the botanical garden’s mission to conserve rare, threatened, and endangered plant species through advanced in vitro propagation and ex-situ conservation techniques. This position plays a critical role in safeguarding plant biodiversity by developing and maintaining tissue culture systems, supporting research initiatives, and contributing to the reintroduction and recovery of native and globally threatened species.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with sterile techniques, micropropagation protocols, and plant cell/tissue culture in a laboratory setting. This role will contribute to the protocol development and maintenance of in vitro cultures to support plant production, research studies, and germplasm preservation.

Qualifications & Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Horticulture, Botany, or a related field (Ph.D. preferred).

Experience

-Minimum 2–5 years of hands-on experience in plant tissue culture

-Experience with diverse plant species, particularly rare, ornamental, or commercial crops, is desirable

-Experience engaging public audiences or training volunteers 

-Knowledge of sterile techniques and in vitro propagation systems

-Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot contamination and optimize culture conditions

-Familiarity with greenhouse environments and acclimatization procedures 

-Understanding of conservation propagation practices, ex-situ collections, and genetic/resource safeguarding

-Strong organizational skills, accuracy, and record-keeping ability

-Ability to work collaboratively within research and conservation teams.

Key Responsibilities

-Train and manage technical staff and volunteers working in the tissue culture laboratory.

-Support education and outreach efforts by assisting with guided tours, workshops, or conservation training programs as needed.

-Perform sterile plant tissue culture techniques including explant preparation, media formulation, micropropagation, callus and protocorm induction, rooting, and acclimatization.

-Maintain in vitro collections for long-term conservation, species rescue, and research needs.

-Monitor and document culture growth, health, and contamination

-Develop and optimize species-specific propagation protocols, with emphasis on rare and endangered taxa.

-Collaborate with conservation team, horticulture, and research staff to support garden collections and restoration projects.

-Prepare and maintain sterile media, growth regulators, and culture vessels; manage inventories and equipment (autoclaves, laminar flow hoods, growth chambers, etc.).

-Acclimatize and transition in vitro plantlets to greenhouse environments, supporting successful establishment and survival.

-Maintain detailed laboratory records, data logs, and standard operating procedures in accordance with conservation and research standards.

-Participate in field-to-lab workflows including seed collection, explant sourcing, and documentation following ethical collection guidelines and permits.

-Follow biosafety and ethical conservation protocols.

Work Environment

-Laboratory setting with routine time at laminar flow hoods.

-Work in greenhouse and nursery spaces for acclimatization and plant maintenance.

-Occasional field support for permitted seed/explant collection.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, and work indoors and outdoors for extended periods of time.
• Must frequently lift and/or move materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Comfortable working indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions, including excessive heat and humidity.