Research Associate - Maize Breeding

Ohalo • Watsonville, CA

2d • $60,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Ohalo™ is seeking an organized and detailed-oriented Research Associate I to join the maize breeding team and take ownership of greenhouse nursery activities within our innovative maize program. This role is ideal for a driven early-career scientist who is eager to innovate and grow professionally in a fast-paced, high-impact startup environment. The Research Associate will play a critical role in the execution of Ohalo’s groundbreaking Boosted Breeding™ platform, managing key processes in greenhouse, data collection, and material advancement to enable revolutionary gains in crop yield and breeding efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Plant Sciences or Related Fields.
• Ability to accurately follow, develop, and communicate detailed plans
• Hands-on approach with a history of success
• Must be detail-oriented, well-organized, and good at record keeping
• Positive attitude and good interpersonal skills
• Ability to work creatively in a dynamic, data driven start-up environment
• Strong organizational skills

Nice To Haves

• 1+ years of hands-on experience with maize crossing and germplasm curation/management
• Experience managing data and using statistical analysis to drive decisions

Responsibilities

• Take partial ownership of planning and executing particular nursery activities to ensure high-quality seed production
• Assess plant vigor, yield, and desirable agronomic characteristics across greenhouse and field trials to identify top-performing genetic material
• Maintain accurate and organized records of plants, seed inventory, and breeding progress across environments and generations.
• Collaborate with greenhouse operators to ensure optimal plant health and generation time
• Work with Research Associates and Scientists to execute experiments, analyze data, and communicate results for a variety of experiments simultaneously

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level