Research Support Assistant (Stellenbosch) needed at Agricultural Research Council

Description

• Execute tasks in collaboration with researchers on breeding and evaluation of grapevine.
• Assist with flower emasculation and pollination.
• Embryo rescue procedures (tissue culture of seedless grape crosses). This includes Aseptic removal of rudimentary seeds from surface sterilized berries (crosses), culture & dissection of rudimentary seeds to remove embryos for further culture & development and transferring germinating embryos to glass jars. 
• Plant seedlings from glass jars to seed trays to harden-off plants from tissue culture.
• Plant seedlings from seed trays to plastic plant bags.
• Assist with tending to plants in greenhouses and tunnels (watering, weeding, fertigation).  
• Assist with monitoring of pests and diseases in tunnels and greenhouses.
• Washing glassware and general cleaning of laboratory.
• Correct use of equipment according to specification (autoclaves, stereo microscopes, laminar flow benches, etc.)
• Keep equipment neat and clean.
• Any other ad hoc tasks that may be reasonable to be assigned to the job incumbent.

Requirements

• Grade 10 with experience working in an environment where good hand-eye coordination skills are required.
• Attention to detail and work accuracy is extremely important (rudimentary seeds and especially embryos are very small & very steady hands are needed to not damage embryos when dissecting rudimentary seeds).
• Previous experience working in a tissue culture or other laboratory will be a recommendation.
• Experience working in nurseries and with young plants (especially with grape plants) will be a recommendation.
• Experience in a work environment where tasks are repetitive.
• Excellent communication skills (mostly verbal but also written).
• Valid driver’s licence recommended, but not excluding applicants.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 18 SEPTEMBER 2025