Molecular Plant Pathologist

About us:

APPLIED AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES Sdn. Bhd. was established in 1986 and is an associate company of two highly successful public listed Malaysian companies, namely Boustead Plantations Berhad and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad. As a leading research centre in tropical plantation crops, our core activities involve research in crop improvement and production, providing advisory services for plantation crops, as well as the production and sale of oil palm tissue culture ramets and seeds.

About the Research Unit:

The AAR Biotechnology Section is at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge molecular biotechnological approaches to revolutionise oil palm breeding, propagation, and molecular plant pathology.

Our mission is to expedite plant breeding and introduce genetics-based solutions to the industry's challenges through innovation and advanced molecular techniques.

Join us in our journey to set new standards in agricultural biotechnology.

Your Role:

We are seeking a Molecular Plant Pathologist specialising in plant host-fungal pathogen interactions.

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Genetics, Applied Microbiology/Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, or a related field, accompanied by a minimum of 12 months relevant work experience. Alternatively, a Master of Science (MSc) degree with at least one peerreviewed journal publication in the aforementioned fields.
• A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.70.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development and execution of RT-PCR and qPCRbased methodologies for gene expression studies, including the extraction of transcriptome data and the handling of highthroughput data.
• Lead the coordination of nursery trials for disease screening, ensuring accurate measurement of plant parameters and facilitating the analysis of highthroughput traits.
• Oversee the maintenance of fungal culture collections, species identification, and microscopy analysis.
• Effectively communicate research findings to both scientific peers and the broader community.
• Ensure the laboratory maintains the highest standards of cleanliness, biosafety, and biosecurity.

Additional Skills and Notes:

• Extensive knowledge in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Plant Disease, and Physiology.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks efficiently.
• Proficiency in English and Bahasa Malaysia, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Pay:
RM4, RM6,450.00 per month

Benefits:

• Free parking
• Health insurance
• Maternity leave
• Opportunities for promotion
• Professional development

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Yearly bonus

Education:

• Bachelor's (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Willingness to travel:

• 50% (required)

Expected Start Date: 06/01/2024

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