Associate Research Scientist

About Upstream Biotechnology, Inc. Upstream Biotechnology, Inc. is developing genetic trait technologies for crop protection and resilience. Our platform focuses on programmable regulation of plant defense pathways to improve disease resistance while minimizing fitness costs. Position Overview We are seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to lead the design and hands-on execution of plant molecular biology experiments supporting trait discovery and development. This is a bench-focused role that combines independent experimental execution with assay development, experimental design, and project ownership. A core responsibility of this position will be executing and advancing transient expression assays, including Nicotiana benthamiana and protoplast systems. The Scientist will also design and implement assays in crop-relevant systems, including soybean and corn, and help translate findings from rapid transient screening into crop and stable-plant validation. Key Responsibilities Molecular Biology, Gene Expression & Trait Evaluation ● Independently design and execute transient expression assays in N. benthamiana ● Design and execute experiments to evaluate candidate constructs and regulatory elements ● Design constructs and cloning strategies for expression testing ● Develop and optimize transient assay methods to improve reproducibility, throughput, and biological relevance. Crop Assay Development & Execution ● Design, develop, and execute molecular and phenotypic assays in crop systems, including soy and corn ● Develop experimental approaches for evaluating gene expression, regulatory activity, signaling response, and trait performance in crop systems ● Execute greenhouse and laboratory experiments as needed to achieve project objectives Project Ownership & Collaboration ● Translate research objective into experimental plans, timelines, and deliverables Work closely with research, transformation, and greenhouse teams to support translation of findings into stable systems ● Manage multiple concurrent experimental workstreams ● Contribute to experimental prioritization and identify risks Required Qualifications ● Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Plant Biotechnology, or related field ● Demonstrated hands-on experience independently executing Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assays in N. benthamiana ● Strong experimental execution, organization and troubleshooting skills ● Ability and desire to maintain a highly hands-on experimental role ● Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. ● Upstream Biotechnology, Inc. is unable to provide employment-based visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future Preferred Qualifications ● Hands-on experience with plant protoplast systems ● Experience developing or executing assays in soybean, corn, or other crop plants ● Knowledge of RNA biology, translational regulation, or synthetic biology approaches ● Familiarity with plant immune signaling, disease resistance, or stress-response pathways ● Experience with plant transformation and/or gene-editing. ● Prior experience in agricultural biotechnology or startup environment Physical Requirements ● Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer ● Must be able to perform repeated bending, standing, and reaching ● Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds What We are Looking For ● Strong scientific curiosity and technical rigor ● Ability to move from scientific question to an executable experiment while while maintaining high-quality data standards ● Comfort working in an evolving startup environment ● A scientist who enjoys conducting experiments, not just designing them ● Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills