Date Palm Tissue Culture Technician

The Date Palm Tissue Culture Technician is responsible for the initiation, maintenance, multiplication, and acclimatization of date palm (_Phoenix dactylifera L_.) plantlets using in vitro tissue culture techniques. The technician will support large-scale micropropagation, ensure culture quality, and maintain sterile laboratory operations in compliance with standard protocols.

Scope of Work / Deliverables

• Initiate and maintain date palm explants (shoot meristems, somatic embryos) under aseptic conditions
• Prepare and sterilize culture media, reagents, and consumables
• Perform subculturing, multiplication, shooting and rooting of in vitro cultures
• Monitor cultures for contamination, physiological disorders, and growth performance
• Conduct somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis protocols.
• Assist with acclimatization and hardening of plantlets in the greenhouse.
• Maintain detailed records of cultures, protocols, and production output
• Follow laboratory safety, hygiene, and quality control procedures
• Support protocol optimization and scaling-up activities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Horticulture, Biological Sciences, or a related field. _(Associate degree/Diploma with relevant hands-on lab experience will also be considered)_
• Hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, preferably with date palm
• Strong knowledge of aseptic techniques and culture media preparation
• Plant tissue transformation
• Hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, preferably with date palm
• Strong knowledge of aseptic techniques and culture media preparation
• Plant tissue transformation