About Concert Bio

Concert Bio (concert.bio) is a venture-backed early-stage start up. We are transforming humanity’s relationship with the world’s most important ecosystem, microbiomes (microbial communities). Our start is in hydroponic agriculture such as high-tech greenhouses and space missions. We use DNA sequencing to help leading growers monitor their microbial community. We use that sequencing data to develop beneficial microbe products for them. You would join our passionate, supportive team at an early stage to help build out and run our plant research facilities, and our company culture.

Role

We have recently secured a ~1200m2 research greenhouse at the University of Warwick’s Stratford-upon-Avon Innovation Campus to scale up our plant trials. You will be working with our research greenhouse manager (Oliver Baker), who runs the facility, to conduct trials. You’ll also be working closely with the rest of our scientific team members based in London. Your work will include maintaining the greenhouse and carrying out trials of our novel microbial candidates. Trials will include multiple crops and hydroponic system types. We are preparing to launch our first leafy green product and have already started work in other crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries. Your work will be an essential part of developing our products, and understanding how growers can best use them in their systems.

Responsibilities

• You’ll work closely with Oliver and other team members to implement trials and provide input into their design.
• You will then work with Oliver to run trials, including best practice crop management (planting, harvesting, clipping, leaf removal, etc), integrated pest management (IPM) and data collection.
• As we expand and upgrade our greenhouse facility, you will provide your input and help Oliver coordinate and liaise with contractors to ensure the successful completion of the work.
• You’ll assist Oliver and our operations team in forecasting spending, including maintenance and trial costs.
• Most of your schedule will be dictated by the needs of the crop. You will need to work occasional weekends and have early starts. Days can be unpredictable and some will be longer than 8 hrs, some shorter.

Need to have

• Eagerness to push yourself and expand your abilities, both professionally and personally.
• Ability to work in a hot and humid environment for most working hours.
• Willingness to develop and maintain effective relationships with customers, suppliers and other industry professionals.
• Ability to travel occasionally to our head office and labs in London (in White City).
• A love for working in a high-speed, low-control environment where you have high ownership.

Nice to have