Principal Scientist / Distinguished Scientist, Cell Biology (Cotton Fiber Development)
GALY
We are out of time. Change must be immediate. We have to help the world find alternative ways to produce all the same things we love. But better. Using less land, less water, less energy, and making less waste. If you think that sounds like a mission, well, you are right. We are solving the world’s most important problems with talented individuals who share our passion to change the world. GALY is an early-stage company developing novel in vitro plant cell culture methods to produce cotton, and other plant products in a process that is faster and uses fewer resources than if grown in the ground. GALY's environment is built so everyone, regardless of gender, race, religion, age, or background, can do their best work.
We are seeking a Principal or Distinguished Scientist specializing in cotton fiber development to guide our efforts in isolating, cultivating, and optimizing stable plant stem cell lines for fiber production. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge and experience in cotton cell biology, tissue culture techniques, and microscopic examination. This individual will play a pivotal role in advancing our in-vitro fiber development process, contributing to achieving key milestones and delivering scalable products within our ambitious timeline. Use your life's work to make a real-world impact!
Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and implementation of innovative methods and processes to isolate, cultivate, and maintain stable plant stem cell lines for cotton fiber development while supporting collaboration.
- Perform in-depth examination and characterization of existing and newly cultured or engineered cell lines suitable for fiber production, utilizing advanced microscopic techniques such as fluorescence and confocal microscopy.
- Design and execute large-scale cell line screening experiments, meticulously tracking and evaluating data to identify optimal candidates for fiber development, sharing responsibilities in the process.
- Employ a variety of skills, including histology, to evaluate secondary cell wall thickness and cellulose content of cotton fibers, understanding the importance of collaboration.
- Generate and examine data, writing comprehensive scientific reports to communicate findings and recommendations effectively, ensuring collaboration throughout.
- Proactively explore and integrate scientific literature to develop hypotheses and experimental designs aimed at advancing our understanding of cotton fiber development, while collaborating with team members.
- Collaborate effectively within cross-functional project teams, supporting technology transfer and scale-up efforts to the production team.
- Take ownership of experimental planning and execution, demonstrating autonomy and scientific initiative in proposing and executing experiments, while understanding and appreciating the importance of collaboration.
- Maintain a high level of organization and record-keeping, ensuring accurate documentation of experimental procedures and results, and agreeing to share responsibilities as needed.
- Act as a subject matter expert in cotton fiber development, providing insights and guidance to drive continuous improvement and innovation in our research efforts, fostering collaboration and support among team members.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. with a focus on cotton fiber development or cell wall biology and minimum of 7+ years of hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, with a deep understanding of plant cell biology as it relates to cotton.
- Recognition as a distinguished leader in the field of cotton fiber development or the biology of plant cell walls; demonstrated leadership in groundbreaking research and innovation within these fields.
- Extensive publication record in top-tier scientific journals, showcasing significant contributions to their area of expertise. Recognition as an authority and thought leader in their field, evidenced by invitations to speak at prestigious conferences, symposiums, or panels.
- Proficiency in advanced microscopic techniques, including fluorescence and confocal microscopy.
- Strong analytical and data evaluation skills, with experience in statistical analysis and experimental design.
- Proven track record of scientific creativity and innovation in research and development activities.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams.
- Highly proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and drive projects forward.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Familiarity with high-throughput methods and automation workflows is a plus.
Additional Information:
- This is a full-time position on-site at our Boston, MA location. GALY may agree to offer relocation assistance for this role.
What we offer at GALY:
- A nimble organization with plenty of growth opportunities
- Competitive total compensation, commensurate with experience
- Excellent full-time benefits that include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as life and disability insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Holidays and Paid Time Off, which may include company-paid vacation during the last week of December
- Additional benefits include allowance for food, transportation, and continuing education
- Stock Option Plan
GALY offers highly competitive salaries and benefits, including medical and dental insurance, paid time off, and 401(k). Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. GALY may agree to sponsor an individual for an employment visa now or in the future if there is a shortage of individuals with particular skills for this job. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the functions, responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position, and GALY retains the discretion to modify functions, responsibilities, duties and skills at any time, including modifying the time devoted to such activities, deleting activities and assigning other activities.
Who we are:
GALY is growing the future. We are an army of dreamers that believe scientists are the artists of a new era. We envision a world where we can still produce sought-after materials without the physical burden we place on the planet and its people, especially those without opportunity. That is why we are revolutionizing the way we produce goods today by building a much more sustainable and distributable form of agriculture. However, nobody takes innovation seriously until you scale it. We are on it! By developing novel scale-up strategies for in-vitro production of cotton that have never been done on an industrial scale, we will achieve something truly new. To do this, we are gathering a team with highly diverse skills and experiences, ranging from genetic engineering, plant cell culture, sterile process development, bioreactor design, mathematics, statistics agriculture, high-performance automation, stylists, illustrators, fashion designers, creative business development, marketing and branding strategies. A group on a mission to save our planet. We are scientists. We are artists. We are GALY.