Research Technician Phytopathology (m/f/d)

As part of our growth strategy and our plans to establish state-of-the-art Research Teams for our Vegetables Business Unit, we are looking for a Research Technician Phytopathology (m/f/d), based at a KWS Vegetables’ breeding station in Spain (Murcia). The Phytopathology Technician will support the Phytopathology team in the department needs. Areas of expertise include plant pathology (including virology, mycology, entomology, and nematology), routine testing, diagnostics and disease monitoring, with a focus on routine application of methodologies to support the breeding tasks. She/He will report to the Research Scientist Phytopathology Vegetables located in Spain. 

Job purpose 

Contribute to the competitiveness of the worldwide KWS vegetable breeding portfolio by executing technologies, methodologies, and protocols. You will support the execution of all tasks related with the phytopathology department including execution of resistance screening protocols, crop and lab maintenance and execution of hygiene measures.

Key Success Factors: 

• Execute protocols for routine disease testing for the vegetable crops
• Proper maintenance of phytopathology trials
• Proactive and efficient collaboration and coordination of farm team to meet phytopathology needs
• Phytopathology lab maintenance with the proper quality standards
• Execute of hygiene protocols in phytopathology facilities
• Maintenance/supervision of pathogen stocks
• Proper storage/organization of phytopathology consumables

Your Tasks:

• Assist and support the Phytopathology team in optimizing the efficiency and output of the department tasks
• Execute routine disease testing bioassays, from inoculum production to trial management (fertigation, watering, crop protection, pruning, etc…)  
• Collaborate in the design and set up of phytopathology trials in greenhouse and climate cell
• Support Phytopathology team on data collection of resistance screening trials
• Support Phytopathology department in execution of hygiene measures in phytopathology facilities
• Responsible of maintenance and supervision of pathogen live stocks in climate cells. Collaborate in the proper maintenance of lab pathogen stocks
• Collaborate in the proper maintenance of phytopathology lab
• Responsible of the organization, supervision and storage of greenhouse and lab consumables
• Coordinate and supervise farm personnel during the daily work in phytopathology tasks including sowings, transplanting, samplings, trial removal, etc…

 Your profile: 

• BSc in Biology, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineer or a closely related discipline
• Have 3+ years of experience in the field of plant pathology; preferably in an industrial setting
• Language skills: Spanish (profiency level) and English (basic level)
• Team player and good interpersonal skills
• Resilient person and able to work independently
• Willingness to travel locally (Murcia-Almeria)