Soy Germplasm Process Scientist

Soy Germplasm Process Scientist at Syngenta Group

Full Time

Experience:

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job:
Yes

Telecommute:
Yes

Sponsor Visa:
No

Location:

Malta, IL, or Slater, IA

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions. Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta's Germplasm Development Team is seeking a Soy Germplasm Process Scientist in Malta, IL, or Slater, IA. The Soy Germplasm Process Scientist leads the development of elite soybean varieties through innovative pre-breeding discovery and genetic enhancement strategies.

This role combines cutting-edge breeding methodologies with advanced analytics to accelerate genetic gain and drive product advancement for maturity groups 2-4, working in close collaboration with cross‑functional teams across North & South market segments.

• Establish and lead the pre‑breeding discovery pipeline for MG 2-4, developing elite soybean varieties through strategic identification, introgression, and testing of novel sources of value‑added genetic diversity in collaboration with North & South market segment teams.
• Design and execute nurseries and yield trial experiments.
• Collect field data and analyze varietal agronomic performance to drive product advancement decisions and accelerate genetic gain.
• Develop and implement cutting‑edge analytical methods (in partnership with data science teams) to quantitatively measure, characterize, and prescribe functional genetic diversity.
• Leverage haplotype data and breeding pipeline insights to optimize selection strategies.
• Design, develop, and execute innovative breeding methodologies and technical projects.
• Test new approaches in the field to validate and scale breakthrough concepts that advance genetic gain.
• Build strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to identify emerging opportunities.
• Consistently document and communicate research findings, data mining results, and modeling approaches to ensure strategic alignment across cross‑functional teams (plant breeders, data scientists, computational biologists, IT).

• Plant Breeding
• Quantitative Genetics
• Field Experimental Design
• Data Analysis
• Statistical Computation
• Visualization
• Molecular Marker‑Based Studies
• Marker‑Assisted Selection
• Genome‑Wide Phenotype‑To‑Genotype Association
• Genomic Selection
• Project Management
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Curiosity
• Gene Editing Technology

• Ph.D. in plant or animal breeding, with two years of experience in either a commercial or academic setting.
• In‑depth knowledge of plant breeding, quantitative genetics, and field experimental design.
• Expertise with tools for data analysis, statistical computation, and visualization (such as Python or R); programming and pipeline development skills integrating large, complex datasets from structured and unstructured sources.
• Demonstrated experience working with molecular marker‑based studies applied to plant breeding, such as marker‑assisted selection, genome‑wide phenotype‑to‑genotype association, and genomic selection.
• Project management experience in a team‑oriented atmosphere; ability to develop and adhere to a budget.
• Demonstrated skills to use simple interfaces to build visualization capabilities of analysis outputs and results.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional, collaborative environment.
• Creative, innovative, and…