Job Opportunity: Seed Laboratory Technician at National Tropical Botanical Garden

[Dustin Wolkis]

We seek to hire a full-time Seed Bank and Laboratory Technician for the National Tropical Botanical Garden Conservation Seed Bank and Laboratory.

Background:
The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to enrich life by perpetuating tropical plants, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Many of the species in our collections are threatened and endangered or have disappeared from their native habitats. Our strongest asset is our staff. We build biocultural conservation programs that are founded in science, best practices, cultural values, and aligned with community priorities. We strive for excellence and best practice collections stewardship and offer education programs and public engagement opportunities that help deepen people’s relationships with plants. Seed banking is an important ex situ conservation means of rare and threatened flora and the NTBG Conservation Seed Bank and Laboratory currently includes over 17 million seeds representing over 530 native Hawaiian taxa, which are routinely checked for viability to ensure collections are fit for restoration projects. In the laboratory we study the storage requirements, longevity and germination ecology of rare and endangered species. The Seed Bank also stores and studies pollen and fern and moss spores.

Summary:
The Seed Bank and Laboratory Technician reports to the Scientific Curator of Seed Conservation and supports the NTBG Conservation Seed Bank and Laboratory, located in the Juliet Rice Wichman Botanical Research Center at our Kalāheo Headquarters on Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
▪  Supports the seed bank in maintaining collections of native Hawaiian plants including globally unique collections of endangered species.
▪  Conducts fieldwork in collaboration with NTBG staff to collect and replenish seeds.
▪  Processes seed accessions for storage, including cleaning, counting, drying, measuring mass, data entry and filing.
▪  Refers to current knowledge base on dormancy of closely related species to inform potential dormancy breaking procedures.
▪  Performs germination assays on incoming accessions and on stored collections at designated intervals.
▪  Assures identity of collections through all phases of receiving, processing and storage.
▪  Maintains database record-keeping associated with collections and seed accessions.
▪  Performs data queries to assist with reporting and data sharing.
▪  Implements new seed banking protocols as needed.
▪  Collaborates with other seed storage facilities in the collection and sharing of data for seeds of Hawaiian species.
▪  Maintains clean lab space, supplies and equipment.
▪  Conducts pollen conservation research to support the establishment of a pollen bank.
▪  Participates in conducting experiments and assembling data for scientific studies and development of best practice.
▪  Participates in hosting and instructing volunteers, visitors and students.

Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or equivalent education/ experience. Previous lab experience preferred.

Deadline to apply: Open until filled
Pay range: $18- $21/ hr.
Applications available online: ntbg.org
Phone: (808) 332-7324
FAX: (808) 332-9765
E-Mail: careers@ntbg.org

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