Agronomist

Job Summary

We are looking for a Microbiologist experienced in culture preparation, biopesticide production, and VAM (mycorrhizal) development. The role involves microbial isolation, mass multiplication, QC testing, spore count analysis, and maintaining pure cultures for commercial agricultural products.

Key Responsibilities

Microbial Culture & Biopesticide Production

• Isolate, culture, and maintain beneficial microbes such as Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Metarhizium, Beauveria, etc.
• Prepare mother culture, seed culture, and mass multiplication for biopesticides.
• Perform media preparation (PDA, NA, broth, jaggery media, etc.).
• Carry out fermentation for microbial growth (liquid & solid-state).
• Monitor CFU/mL, contamination, pH, growth rate, and purity.
• Support formulation of liquid, powder, and carrier-based biopesticide products.

VAM (Mycorrhizal) Production & Testing

• Assist in VAM mass multiplication using pot culture or substrate culture.
• Conduct spore extraction, spore count, and root colonization analysis.
• Maintain healthy host plants for VAM production (sorghum, maize, etc.).
• Monitor growth conditions, moisture levels, and contamination-free environments.

Laboratory Quality Control (QC)

• Follow FCO standards for microbial quality.
• Perform routine QC tests on finished products:
• CFU count
• VAM spore count
• Moisture content
• Contamination check
• Shelf-life monitoring
• Maintain accurate data, logs, and batch records.

Lab Maintenance & Documentation

• Prepare SOPs for culture handling, fermentation, and VAM procedures.
• Maintain sterile work environment using laminar airflow, autoclave, incubator, pH meter, etc.
• Manage stock of cultures, chemicals, media, and lab equipment.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols.

Skills & Qualifications

Required:

• B.Sc / M.Sc in Microbiology, Agri-Microbiology, Biotechnology or related field.
• Strong practical knowledge in:
• Microbial culture techniques
• Serial dilution, streaking, plating
• Fermentation handling
• Microscopy (spores, hyphae, colonies)
• Spore count (VAM) and CFU analysis
• Ability to prepare contamination-free cultures.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: ₹12,000.00 - ₹25,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person