Research Associate I

About Benson Hill
Benson Hill empowers innovators to develop more healthy, tasty and sustainable food by unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants. Benson Hill’s CropOS™ platform combines machine learning and big data with breeding techniques and plant biology to drastically accelerate and simplify the product development process. This platform allows for cost-effective and more efficient ways for companies to analyze and make improvements in plant genetics. Benson Hill brings a unique and holistic approach to our product and platform development, as we span a broader workflow involving trait and seed development, genome editing, and breeding all the way to creating better ingredients and varieties that tap a strong consumer demand for more flavorful and nutritious fruits and vegetables. More information can be found online at www.bensonhill.com. Follow us on Twitter at @BensonHillInc.

Our Purpose and Core Values

Our Core Values are a set of common principles we share that are fundamental to our company’s identity.

• Be Bold!  We redefine boundaries by providing new solutions to difficult problems. Together we are driven to transform the future and will not allow the fear of failure to prevent us from innovating. We voice our opinions, embrace change, and challenge each other to think creatively.
• Be Inspired! We redefine boundaries by providing new solutions to difficult problems. Together we are driven to transform the future and will not allow the fear of failure to prevent us from innovating. We voice our opinions, embrace change, and challenge each other to think creatively.
• Be Real! We understand who we are, what we want to achieve, and what it takes to get there. We hold each other accountable through timely, candid, and well-intentioned feedback. Together we engage in honest communication and healthy debate that leads to success through true alignment.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Research and Development Department is responsible for the development of technology platforms and products designed to support the future growth, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability of the company. As part of its platform development efforts, R&D conducts a wide range of research activities, namely in the areas of trait discovery and validation, crop genetic engineering, crop transformation, molecular detection, biochemical assays, plant growth, and molecular breeding, to name a few. These activities are aimed at developing new capabilities in crop research, the outcome of which is then leveraged to create new product development opportunities and shorten the time to market. The department leverages its platform capabilities and extensive knowhow in biology and crop science, along with the computational expertise housed within the Data Science & Platform Engineering, as well as the market insights of the Business Development and Commercial teams to design and create new and improved crop varieties, which offer tangible benefits to farmers and consumers, specifically in the areas of sustainability, health, and nutrition.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Research Associate I, you will support research activities by performing routine research tasks under supervision. Follows protocols to collect data and log data findings.

YOU WILL:

• Participate in seed packaging and processing
• Organize and conduct indoor and outdoor activities (including planting, scouting, crossing, spraying, harvest)
• Assist on tasks being led by other team members to achieve quality results
• Communicate efficiently and effectively within teams and across the organization
• Operate & calibrate various agriculture equipment such as: planters, sprayers, combines, seed threshers, seed counters, other field & lab equipment
• Conduct maintenance inspections and activities on all equipment (sprayers, combines, seed threshers, other field equipment)
• Maintains clean and organized facilities, equipment, and instruments
• Adhere to all safety and seed stewardship protocols and expectations
• Conduct projects and tasks as assigned
• Safely transport equipment and seed to internal & outlying locations
• Willing and able to work in a variety of areas (field, lab, warehouse, etc.)

YOU HAVE:

EDUCATION

• Associate degree in agriculture or other relevant degree

EXPERIENCE

• +2 years relevant experience
• Agriculture knowledge of practices and ma