Job Title: Research Associate
Reporting To: Research Scientist Manager
Location: Royal Oaks, CA
Schedule: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm, Monday - Friday
Position Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt
Compensation: The following information is provided in honesty as a general description of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon related factors such as skills, experience, education, etc. Hourly Rate Estimate: $24.00 - $26.00
Our simple vision is to be the best integrated mushroom company in North America by efficiently delivering superior value to our customers and consumers. We do that by creating long-term value for customers, teammates, suppliers, and the communities in which we operate. We work intentionally toward that vision with a collaborative team foundation. Our principles of trust, respect, integrity, shared vision, empowerment, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement spur our actions every day as we work to achieve our purpose.
At the heart of our culture is a group of individuals who dedicate themselves to their work and each other day in and day out. That’s why we invest in enhancing the lives in the communities around Monterey Mushrooms locations. In our hearts, we’re humble farmers. We’re proud of our continent-wide reach from Monterey Mushrooms locations across North America — from coast to coast and Mexico — focused on our company purpose of Enhancing People’s Lives. For more information, please visit our website. www.montereymushrooms.com.
Amycel Spawn Mate is the industry leader in mushroom genetics and spawn development that supports the gourmet, medicinal, and exotic mushroom markets around the world. Amycel Spawn Mate has been serving the Mushroom Industry in North and South America since the late 1970s, and internationally since the early 1990s. Amycel Spawn Mate is the company you can depend on to help you grow the best. For increased productivity, the consistency you need and the quality you demand, Amycel Spawn Mate delivers. We provide mushroom spawns, supplements, and services that mushroom growers need worldwide. We are the world leader in mushroom strain development. Over 90% of North American growers use our two proprietary brown mushroom spawn. Our Research and Development Group creates the best strains for all growing environments, and it is hard at work developing a new hybrid strain of white mushroom spawn. Visit us at www.Amycel.com.
Monterey Nutraceuticals is the current medicinal mushroom industry split between low-quality producers and US cultivators with limited capabilities and product offerings. The industry is void of a low-cost, US-based producer that can offer a full medicinal mushroom product line (pure fruiting body and mycelium-based products) and that can serve as an unbiased, scientifically sound market educator and leader. As the industry leader for over 50 years, Monterey Mushrooms has the production capacity, expertise, distribution network, R & D capability, and trusted brand to fill the market void and become the dominant global supplier of US-grown medicinal mushrooms. We know mushrooms! From seed (spawn) to powder, we have control over every aspect of our business as we’re a vertically integrated mushroom producer in North America. The spawn we use to grow our medicinal mushrooms is produced by our affiliate, Amycel SpawnMate. Then, we grow, dry, and package everything at our facilities in California to ensure our mushroom powders reach their full potential. If that is not enough, we third-party test for heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, polysaccharides, and various compounds. In house, we test every product for potency, quality, and purity, and we have that verified by a third party periodically. Monterey Nutraceuticals is a portfolio company of Paine Schwarz Partners, who invested in the business in May 2022. For more information, visit us www.montereymushrooms.com/nutraceuticals.
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Monterey and its divisions, Amycel, Spawn Mate & Nutra are a portfolio of Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP), who invested in the business in May 2022. PSP is a global sustainable food-chain investment private equity firm based in California and New York. The firm invests in middle-market companies across North America and Europe. PSP is exclusively focused on investing in food and agribusiness companies and brings a collaborative and active management approach to its portfolio companies.
Over the past 20+ years, PSP (together with certain predecessor and related entities) has invested $5.7 billion of equity capital across 87 food and agribusiness investments (including 31 platform transactions), representing over $10.0 billion of total transaction value. Currently, the fund’s portfolio is comprised of 17 food and ag companies and a total of $6.5 billion in AUM. PSP recently held its final closing for Fund VI at $1.7 billion, which was above its original target of $1.5 billion and 17% bigger than its previous $1.4 billion Fund V.
Of any industry, we believe food and agribusiness presents perhaps the greatest opportunity to simultaneously create value and drive positive impact through responsible investment practices. PSP is committed to addressing imminent challenges facing the food and agriculture sector by championing companies that provide innovative solutions around food security, economic growth, human rights, positive environmental impacts and health products. With an intensive focus on Sustainability & ESG, we are a proud signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment, the global leading proponent of incorporating ESG factors in investment decisions and processes. To this end, these investments are deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger, clean water and sanitation and climate action, among many others. For more information on Paine Schwartz Partners, please visit
www.paineschwartz.com.
Why This Role Matters:
The Research Associate role is a full time hourly non-exempt position with benefits. The primary responsibility of this position is to assist with Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom) breeding. This work includes making crosses to produce new hybrids, isolating new parents from spores, and genotyping the cultures using PCR. There is also the opportunity to learn more advanced molecular biology, bioinformatic, or breeding techniques in this position. Ideal candidates will have some experience working in a laboratory environment, strong sterile technique, skills in molecular biology, and a BS in a Biology related field. You will have a chance to be on the cutting-edge of mushroom breeding and will likely play a role in creating the next generation of mushrooms to be sold in stores.
What You’ll Own:
Breeding & Culture Development
- Perform controlled crosses to generate new mushroom hybrids
- Isolate and purify new parental lines from spores
- Maintain, subculture, and preserve fungal strains using sterile technique
- Support phenotypic evaluation of hybrids in trials as needed
Molecular Biology & Genotyping
- Extract DNA from fungal cultures
- Perform PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis assays
- Prepare reagents, buffers, media, and solutions for laboratory activities
- Analyze and document genotyping results
- Assist in the development and optimization of molecular assays
Experimental Support & Data Management
- Assist in experimental design and implementation
- Accurately maintain laboratory notebooks and digital databases
- Collect, organize, summarize, and present experimental data
- Ensure traceability and proper labeling of all cultures and samples
Laboratory Operations & Quality
- Maintain sterile lab environments and follow established SOPs
- Help maintain overall laboratory organization and functions
- Identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and accuracy
Collaboration & Growth
- Work cross-functionally with R&D and production teams
- Participate in project discussions and contribute scientific input
- Stay current on relevant scientific techniques and literature
- Support additional research initiatives and special projects as needed
What’s The Right Fit:
Required:
- BS in a Molecular Biology, microbiology or related field
- 0-1 year of laboratory experience
- Knowledge of basic molecular biology techniques (PCR, electrophoresis…)
- Experience with sterile technique
Desired:
- 1-3 years of laboratory experience
- Knowledge of advanced molecular biology techniques
- Knowledge of the fungal life cycle and genetics
- Passion for learning and improvement
