Verdant BioSciences is a privately held corporation headquartered in Denver, Colorado. We will be locating a new facility in the Ames/Des Moines corridor in the latter part of 2010, which will be the center for our research efforts for Our leadership team combines experience from a wide variety of disciplines and industries including natural products chemistry, extraction technology, plant-made pharmaceuticals, seed, agrochemicals, and food technology.

We are developing unique small molecule chemistries that effectively and safely increase the productive capability of plants. Our chemistries help growers get more from their crops -- Greater yields, earlier maturity, and improved crop quality. But these benefits are only part of the picture. Our compounds will help plants use less water, resist pests, and use other nutrients more efficiently. At the same time users can realize additional economic benefits from lower energy, labor and crop inputs.

Skills Required

We are looking for candidates who are (is):

·         Quick learners who are willing to delve into unfamiliar topics and areas and quickly develop a basic competency which can be used to identify problems and practical solutions. Strong organizational skills and the ability to problem-solve, prioritize, and be sensitive to deadlines

·         Able to work independently in a dynamic and stimulating work environment, often using communication technologies such as video conferencing and collaboration software.

·         Have a solid grasp of the Microsoft Office Productivity suite, and statistical analysis.

·         Solid written communicators with good oral presentation skills.

·         Willing to work as a part of a team.

·         Willing to work outside of their comfort zone.

·         Able to establish rapport with outside contacts.

·         Maintain a sense of humor and to keep their heads when all about you are losing theirs.

You would be dealing with confidential information of our company and our strategic partners with whom we have comprehensive agreements. Candidates must be willing to sign a simple Confidentiality Agreement for the interview and a more extensive agreement if selected for an internship assignment. We are working with several multi-national entities.

Our preferred candidates would have a background in agronomics, agricultural economics, and background in a biological science. This would preferably be some aspect of plant sciences or chemistry. A basic understanding of genetics would be helpful.

Nature of Projects

The exact scope and extent of each  project will be tailored to both the company needs and the background of the candidate. The types of projects which we anticipate will be needed include but are not limited to the following:

1.       Planning and developing a biomass acquisition strategy for a new crop (Midwest and Mid-South for processing and subsequent sale and transport to European Union.

2.       Planning and development of a biomass acquisition strategy for the biomass co-product from existing process facilities in Southern and South Central US for additional processing, transport and sale.

3.       Development of a complete business plan for the establishment of a vegetative “seed” propagation facility in support of projects 1 and 2.

4.       Economic and technical analysis of production of high-value industrial biomaterial from

       “ biosecure” transgenic plants.

5.       Development of market economics for variety of plants to guide greenhouse and field trials of Verdant’s plant metabolic regulator technologies.

6.       Analysis of seed treatments, coating and priming technologies as delivery mechanisms for company biochemical products.