Plant Propagation Specialist - Huma, Inc.

What HUMA is about:

Huma, Inc. (HUMA) is a United States based mining, manufacturing, and novel technology leader that is driven to enhance the quality of life by empowering others with humic substances. It achieves this through several brand lines in the agricultural, environmental, and emerging products and technologies all based on mined humic substances (ancient oxidized carbon). HUMA is a great mid-sized international growth company with solid benefits, a convenient location, and one of the best company cultures you will find anywhere! Please visit our website to learn more (www.huma.us).

Job Summary:

HUMA seeks to continually improve the consistency and effectiveness of all its products. Specifically, knowledge of elicitors in humic substances (HS) is limited. Identification of HS elicitors is accomplished through plant bioassays studies using various species of plants, exposed to various HS, their fractions or chemical proxies (e.g. quinones), and that are grown in hydroponic culture, in soilless media or in soil. In addition, HUMA's current formulations change as new or alternative ingredients become available or existing ingredients are removed from the market. The effectiveness of a formulation built with replacement ingredients to meet or exceed the performance of the existing formulation needs to be evaluated via plant studies. Finally, new formulations also need to be evaluated via plant studies. The R&D Plant Propagation Specialist plays a key role in this and is a member of, and supports, the HUMA R&D Team and will receive personal and technical management from the Senior Director for R&D.

How you will spend your time:

• Provide expertise in plant cultivation and maintenance of environmental controls in and management of the grow room and growth chamber to provide platforms to support existing and new R&D products and projects that meet ongoing company needs and priorities.
• Acquire and maintain (i.e. proper storage, stratification and surface sterilization conditions) supplies of seeds of plant species (e.g. corn, Micro Tom tomato, Arabidopsis, wheat etc.) that will be used for research and formulations testing. Experience with Arabidopsis is a plus.
• Acquire and prepare materials and supplies (e.g. nutrients, soilless media ingredients, soils, pots etc.) for conducting plant studies in hydroponic culture, soilless media and soil.
• Provide maintenance of plant studies including H2O and nutrient additions as prescribed by experimental designs and protocols.
• Participate in plant bioassay analyses during (e.g. photosynthetic and nutrient efficiency) and post-harvest (e.g. root and shoot system scanning or stress/nutrient related assays).
• Prepare and maintain, with Senior Director of R&D, a schedule of plant studies and coordinate the calendaring and timing of the research and formulation testing studies to allow for well-coordinated schedules for the set-up and harvesting of approved studies.
• Maintain records of the details and results of all studies in a lab notebook. Final details should also be recorded on the HUMA Lab Share site for a permanent record of study details and results.
• Provide updates of project status during R&D weekly meetings.
• In spare moments, proactively learn to use and maintain additional laboratory equipment as well as willingly assisting others in the lab with their assigned duties and projects.

Skills/Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, agronomy, etc.). Advanced degree preferred.
• Proven experience conducting research, including designing studies, collecting data, and analyzing findings.
• Strong knowledge of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques.
• Familiarity with relevant software and tools for data analysis (e.g., statistical software, GIS, qualitative analysis software, etc.).
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to convey complex ideas, findings to diverse audiences through written reports, and oral presentations.
• Ability to work independently in remote or challenging environments, as well as collaboratively within a team.
• Flexibility to travel and work irregular hours as needed for fieldwork.

Why Should You Apply?

• Competitive pay including quarterly discretionary bonuses
• Great benefit package with medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% company match
• 4/9’s schedule with Fridays off
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Positive work environment with a caring family-friendly staff
• The opportunity to enhance the quality of life!