Mycologist Lab Technician: Mycelium/mushroom Spawn

**Mycologist Lab Technician: Mycelium/Mushroom Spawn Production**

**About the Kalahari Mushroom**

The Kalahari Mushroom team is passionate about growing the best quality mushrooms. Our carefully managed crops are tendered by our highly skilled team of committed growers.

**What you will be doing**:

- Execute production and clean room tasks including preparation and sterilization of media, inoculation with pure cultures, and post-processing of materials
- Prepare for production by reviewing production schedule and work orders, assembling, and weighing materials and supplies
- Assist in documenting production by completing forms, logs, and records of processing steps
- Experience with tissue culture and spawn production techniques
- Proficiency in agar, grain, and liquid culture techniques
- Cultivation experience in gourmet and medicinal mushroom species
- Production methods for edible and medicinal mushrooms
- Formulate liquid mushroom spawn
- Track and record cultivation process to ensure no contamination of samples
- Design and execute laboratory testing according to standard procedures, make observations and interpret findings
- Improve the cultivation process after analyzing prior data
- Maintain equipment and assist in ordering laboratory supplies
- Ensure that all safety guidelines are always followed strictly and maintain a clean and orderly environment, including washing the spawn tanks

**To be successful, you will need**
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, or food science
- Able to communicate effectively
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
- Ability to manage time and maintain focus
- Ability to work autonomously and under pressure

**Nice to have skills & background**
- Applied knowledge of aseptic technique and sterilization
- Prior experience in biological production and/or the gourmet mushroom industry

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Degree in Microbiology/Biology/Biochemistry/Chemistry, or relevant field
- Experience in operating electrical and nonelectrical laboratory equipment
- In depth knowledge of QHSE Systems, preventative measures, and laboratory best practices
- Demonstrated experience in executing a series of experiments in the context of a supervised project. This includes the ability to follow and adapt established protocols, troubleshoot experiments, and work independently.
- Experience working with fungal cultures.
- Demonstrated maker mindset for creatively solving technical problems.
- Experience troubleshooting DNA extraction.
- Demonstrated interest in research in plant and fungal biology.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Temp to perm, Internship

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Midrand, Gauteng: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (required)