Principal Scientist: Plant Physiology

Talent Acquisition Team; Al Ain; On-site; AED 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ARC-Gen, the Center of Excellence for Abiotic Resilience and Crop Genomics, seeks a Principal Scientist in Plant Physiology to lead research efforts in Abu Dhabi. You will design experiments, develop assays for drought, salt, and heat tolerance, and mentor a small team, collaborating with cross-functional experts to translate physiology into genetic insights.

This role contributes to global food security and climate resilience.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Physiology or related field.
• Fluent in English.
• Deep understanding of plant physiological processes and their interaction with genetics/environment

Responsibilities

• Lead experimental design and execution to study plant responses to abiotic stresses.
• Develop and validate physiological assays for drought, salt, and heat tolerance.
• Interpret data to identify traits linked to stress tolerance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate physiological insights with genetic pathways.
• Manage a small team (1-3 assistants/technicians).
• Present findings internally and at scientific conferences.
• Contribute to publications.

Skills

Plant physiology

Experimental design

Statistical analysis

Data interpretation

High-throughput phenotyping

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Physiology

Tools

High-throughput phenotyping platforms

Phenotyping instrumentation

Job description

Job Title

Principal Scientist - Plant Physiology

Sector

Innovation Oasis

Department

Science and Research

Section

Plant health/ Physiology

Reporting Lines

Direct Reports To: Sr. Research Manager- Plant Physiology

Job Purpose

The Center of Excellence for Abiotic Resilience and Crop Genomics (ARC-Gen) is a partnership between Silal, the UAE’s leading agri-food and technology company, and Limagrain Vegetable Seeds (LVS), the world leader in Vegetable Seeds. This partnership is aiming to develop a world class research facility in UAE with state-of-the-art capabilities in plant physiology and gene editing, with the ultimate goal of enhancing crops’ ability to withstand extreme conditions such as heat, drought, and salinity.

As a Principal Scientist in Plant Physiology, you will contribute to the development of the Plant Physiology Research Unit at ARC-Gen and manage research projects in plant physiology to support the development of abiotic resilience traits. You will play a critical role in shaping the plant physiology research strategy at ARC-Gen. This role involves designing and implementing experiments to understand plant physiological mechanisms and their genetic control and translating findings into actionable strategies for abiotic resilience improvement in targeted crops.

Your work will contribute directly to global priorities such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead experimental design and execution to understand plant responses to abiotic stresses.
• Develop and validate physiological assays for traits such as drought, salt or heat tolerance.
• Interpret data to identify physiological traits linked to stress tolerance.
• Partner with other scientific teams to prioritize candidate genes based on physiological impact.
• Develop and validate phenotyping protocols for edited plants.
• Monitor emerging technologies in phenotyping and remote sensing for potential adoption.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (agronomists, (pre-)breeders, molecular and cell biologists, biostatisticians, etc.) to integrate physiological insights into abiotic stress projects, and ultimately link physiological traits with genetic pathways.
• Optimize phenotyping protocols.
• Work closely with trait experts for rapid assessment of plant performance.
• Present research findings internally and at scientific conferences contribute to publications.

Project Leadership & Management

• Propose, design, and manage research projects
• Act as an expert in your domain and collaborate across research areas for timely delivery.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement to accelerate research processes.
• Ensure efficient transfer of deliverables and know-how to end users.
• Manage a small team (1-3 assistants/technicians).
• Participate in building collaborations with world-class experts maintaining cutting-edge knowledge in the field.

Financial Management

• Contribute to project budgeting and research workplan development.

People Management

• Mentor and supervise technicians in best practices for technology use.

Stakeholder Management

Key Internal Stakeholders

• All Sectors, Departments and Offices
• Any other concerned internal stakeholders as required

Key External Stakeholders

• Concerned government, semi-government and private sector entities
• Any other concerned external stakeholders as required

Required Qualification

Academic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Physiology or related field.
• Fluent in English.

Professional Experience

• Deep understanding of plant physiological processes and their interaction with genetics and environment
• Experience in Crop Modelling is a plus
• Proven track record of managing projects and delivering results
• Proficiency in experimental design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation
• Experience with high-throughput precision phenotyping is a plus

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Abiotic Stress Mechanistic Modeling: Deciphering and modeling how plant physiological pathways respond to extreme heat, drought, and salinity. Expert
• Precision Phenotyping Assay Development: Designing and validating high-accuracy assays and remote sensing protocols to quantify stress tolerance traits. Expert
• Genotype-to-Phenotype Mapping: Collaborating with geneticists to link specific physiological responses to their underlying genetic control pathways. Expert
• Functional Trait Validation: Performing rapid, rigorous assessments of genome-edited plants to verify improved performance in desert-like conditions. Expert
• Scientific Strategy & Unit Design: Shaping the R&D roadmap and experimental workflows for the establishment of a world-class Physiology Research Unit. Expert