Scientific Expert – Disease Control Computational Biologist (f/m/d)

Syngenta; Schweiz; On-site; CHF 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Flexible working

Onsite doctor

Fitness room

Canteen

Family friendly initiatives

Job summary

Syngenta is seeking a scientific leader to drive computational disease-biology efforts across discovery to product support, integrating multi-omics with AI/ML for robust decision-making. You will shape roadmaps, build scalable data pipelines, and co-develop digital platforms while ensuring data integrity and responsible AI use.

You will mentor scientists, establish collaborations, and translate complex biological evidence into portfolio decisions in a global, cross-functional team.

Qualifications

• PhD with substantial post-PhD experience at the interface of disease biology and computational/data science.
• Demonstrated practical deployment of computational, statistical or machine-learning approaches in biological research.
• Recognized scientific authority able to shape research strategy and portfolio decisions.
• Track record of external scientific partnerships, publications or IP.
• Experience translating complex biological evidence into product-development or portfolio decisions.
• Fluent written and spoken English; German is good to have.

Responsibilities

• Shape and co-own computational disease-biology roadmaps aligned with project needs and priorities.
• Integrate multi-omics data into mechanistic, network and predictive models.
• Design robust experiments and bioassays validating computational predictions across lab, greenhouse, and field conditions.
• Develop AI/ML approaches for disease diagnosis, phenotyping and risk assessment.
• Define fit-for-purpose data pipelines including LIMS/ELN integration.
• Build reusable methods, standards, digital workflows and platforms.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to project teams and governance forums.
• Establish collaborations and mentor scientists while ensuring reproducibility and responsible AI use.

Skills

Computational biology

Machine learning

Bioinformatics

AI in biology

Experiment design

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Company Description

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs. Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting. From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.

Health Promotion Switzerland recognizes Syngenta's commitment to the health and well-being of its employees and awards the "Friendly Work Space" label to all its Swiss sites. At Syngenta, employee health and well-being are key to the company

Job Description

Purpose of the role

• Provide scientific leadership for computational and systems-level disease-control biology, accelerating discovery and development of fungicide, biological and integrated crop-protection solutions.
• Integrate pathogen, host, crop, environmental, agronomic and multi-omics evidence with AI/ML, bioinformatics and digital phenotyping to generate robust, decision-ready insight from Discovery through Product Support.
• Build reusable capabilities, standards and partnerships while upholding scientific rigor, data integrity, HSE, compliance and responsible-AI standards.

Accountabilities

• Shape and co-own computational disease-biology roadmaps aligned with project needs, stage plans and portfolio priorities.
• Integrate pathogen, host, crop, environmental, agronomic and multi-omics data into mechanistic, network and predictive models.
• Design robust experiments and bioassays that validate computational predictions across laboratory, greenhouse, semi-field and field conditions.
• Develop or co-develop AI/ML approaches for disease diagnosis, image-based phenotyping, efficacy prediction, plant/leaf health and phytotoxicity, resistance/risk assessment and experiment prioritization.
• Define fit-for-purpose data pipelines from instrument and assay through analysis and decision support, including LIMS/ELN integration.
• Build reusable methods, standards, digital workflows and platforms, driving adoption across Biology and Disease Control.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations, options, risks and decision points to project teams and governance forums.
• Establish strategic collaborations and mentor scientists and postdoctoral researchers, while ensuring reproducibility, IP protection, HSE, compliance and responsible use of AI.

Qualifications

• PhD with substantial post-PhD experience leading applied and fundamental research at the interface of disease biology and computational/data science.
• Demonstrated practical deployment of computational, statistical or machine-learning approaches in biological research.
• Recognized scientific authority able to shape research strategy, capability roadmaps and portfolio-relevant decisions
• Track record of external scientific partnerships, publications, presentations, IP or comparable community contribution.
• Experience translating complex biological evidence into product-development, regulatory, stewardship or portfolio decisions.
• Fluent written and spoken English ; German is good to have

Additional Information

We offer a variety of financial and non-financial benefits including:

• A position which contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment
• A superb working environment with an open culture and diverse workforce where new ideas are always welcome
• The opportunity to work with and learn from highly qualified and experienced employees and gain scientific and technical excellence
• Learning culture (Together we Grow) and wide range of training options
• You will profit from a competitive pension fund plan, flexible working, attractive bonus system, onsite doctor, fitness room, canteen, and other benefits such as Family friendly initiatives, Child and Family allowance

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.