Limagrain Field Seeds Americas is hiring a Wheat Quality Lab Research Assistant in Windsor, Colorado, to support the Limagrain Cereal Seeds Wheat Quality Lab by performing end-use quality tests on experimental wheat lines and varieties and ensuring new wheat varieties meet farmers’ and end-users’ expectations for mill and bake quality.
About the Role – Wheat Quality Laboratory Testing
Core Focus: Performing end-use quality tests on experimental wheat lines and varieties
Physical Testing: Kernel hardness (SKCS), protein (NIR), falling number, and flour milling yield
Flour Analysis: Gluten quality via mixograph, farinograph, and extensograph testing
End-Product Evaluation: Bread and cookie baking, and noodle quality for US and Canadian markets
Equipment Care: Routine calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of lab equipment
Windsor, Colorado Career Opportunity & Limagrain’s Mission
Strategic Location: Windsor, Colorado – home to Limagrain’s Cereal Seeds Wheat Quality Lab
Breeding Program Support: Serving wheat breeding programs across the US and Canada
Market Impact: Directly influencing wheat variety releases affecting farmers and end-users
Career Growth: Path toward advanced roles in cereal science, quality management, or lab leadership
Position Overview
This Wheat Quality Lab Research Assistant role at Limagrain in Windsor, Colorado involves prioritizing, organizing, and preparing incoming wheat samples for testing from breeding programs in the US and Canada, working with the Lab Manager and breeders to determine testing needs. You will analyze physical grain attributes, evaluate milled flour performance and gluten quality, assess end-product quality including bread, cookie, and noodle quality, reliably generate and communicate test results, perform routine equipment calibration and maintenance, and maintain a clean, orderly, and safe lab environment.
💡 Why This Role Matters: As Wheat Quality Lab Research Assistant at Limagrain in Windsor, you directly influence which new wheat varieties reach farmers by ensuring they meet mill and bake quality standards, apply specialized laboratory techniques including SKCS, NIR, mixograph, and farinograph testing to real breeding program samples, evaluate end-product quality across bread, cookie, and noodle applications for both US and Canadian markets, have the opportunity to grow into the lab baker role and expand your technical skill set, and build a meaningful career supporting agricultural innovation at a respected global seed company.
Key Responsibilities
Sample Management & Testing Coordination
- Prioritize, organize, and prepare incoming wheat samples for testing
- Coordinate with Lab Manager and breeders on testing needs by wheat class and stage
- Manage sample volumes and deadlines across breeding programs in the US and Canada
- Ensure testing schedules align with breeding program requirements
Physical Grain & Flour Analysis
- Analyze kernel hardness (SKCS), protein (NIR), falling number, and flour milling yield
- Evaluate milled flour for protein, moisture, and ash using NIR
- Assess gluten quality using mixograph, farinograph, and extensograph testing
- Perform solvent retention profile testing for soft wheat and falling number
End-Product Quality Evaluation
- Evaluate bread and cookie baking quality attributes
- Assess noodle quality for both US and Canadian markets
- Reliably generate, summarize, and communicate accurate test results
- Support data-driven decisions on wheat variety release readiness
Equipment Maintenance & Lab Operations
- Perform routine calibration and maintenance of lab equipment
- Troubleshoot equipment problems to identify causes and resolve issues
- Competently operate laboratory equipment interfaced with computer software
- Maintain a clean, orderly, and safe lab environment following LCS policies
- Assist other teams within LCS as needed to meet company goals
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field
- Or Associate Degree in a relevant field with equivalent experience
Technical Skills
- Demonstrated knowledge of good laboratory techniques
- Willingness and ability to learn mill and bake skills, including becoming the lab baker
- Competence operating laboratory equipment interfaced with computer software
Essential Skills
- Strong leadership and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to develop productive relationships across research, sales, and administrative teams
- Project planning and scheduling skills for managing detailed lab workflows
- Strong teamwork, sound judgment, and professionalism
- Adaptability to handle frequent change and multiple simultaneous projects
- Dependability and ability to work independently and self-directed
About Limagrain
Limagrain Field Seeds Americas operates the Limagrain Cereal Seeds Wheat Quality Lab, playing a critical role in ensuring new wheat varieties meet the mill and bake quality expectations of farmers and end-users across the US and Canada. This Wheat Quality Lab Research Assistant role in Windsor, Colorado offers hands-on exposure to specialized cereal science testing methods and the opportunity to directly influence which wheat varieties reach the market, supporting agricultural innovation at a globally respected seed company.
Career Excellence: Support the future of wheat breeding through hands-on quality lab testing at Limagrain in Windsor, Colorado.
Who Should Apply?
- Cereal Science Graduates: With a Bachelor’s or Associate degree in a relevant field
- Food/Grain Science Technicians: With laboratory testing experience
- Agricultural Research Assistants: Interested in wheat breeding and quality science
- Lab Equipment Specialists: Comfortable with SKCS, NIR, mixograph, and farinograph tools
- Detail-Oriented Professionals: With strong organizational and project management skills
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