Job Description & Details
This contract gig in Johnston places you right on the front lines of agricultural research, handling tissue sampling and greenhouse operations for major crop lines. If you enjoy hands-on plant science and methodical data collection without being chained to a desk all day, this is a solid entry point into ag-tech research.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
You'll spend your days managing the lifecycle of plant samples—mostly corn, soybeans, and wheat—from seeding and transplanting to tissue punching and data logging. Expect to juggle thousands of individual samples simultaneously, meaning your organizational skills need to be airtight so identities never get mixed up. You'll also handle the less glamorous, yet crucial, routine greenhouse sanitation and waste management tasks to keep the research facility compliant and contamination-free.
The Core Tech Stack
While you won't be writing complex code here, you do need a solid grasp of basic computer literacy, specifically MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) for data tracking. The real technical weight of this role rests on your ability to master internally-developed research software quickly and maintain meticulous physical protocols for sample handling, storage, and greenhouse ergonomics.
Interview Expectations
The hiring manager will likely test your resilience and attention to detail by asking how you handle extremely repetitive tasks under strict time constraints without making errors. They want to know you won't cut corners on sample tracking when you're knee-deep in thousands of identical leaves. Be ready to discuss a time when you managed a high-volume, repetitive workflow while maintaining absolute accuracy.
Application Advice
Your resume needs to heavily feature keywords like 'tissue sampling', 'sample tracking', 'greenhouse operations', and 'MS Excel' to clear the automated filters. Emphasize any past lab, agricultural, or biology coursework that proves you can stand for long hours in a warm, humid environment while following rigid standard operating procedures.