Data Scientist - Agriculture

Syngenta; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A global agricultural innovation leader is seeking a Data Scientist to analyze historical biological data and provide data-driven insights for crop protection R&D. The ideal candidate will have strong foundations in data science and experience with Python libraries, particularly in relation to biology or environmental sciences. The position is based in the United Kingdom and offers flexible working within an extensive benefits package.

Benefits

Extensive benefits package

Flexible working

Learning culture and training options

Qualifications

• Strong foundations in data science at postgraduate level with applications in natural sciences.
• Proven experience in data science, analytics, modeling, and visualization using Python.
• Scientific domain knowledge in environmental sciences or biology.
• Hands-on experience with machine-learning models for biological outcomes.
• Ability to visualize results and communicate them effectively.

Responsibilities

• Analyze historical biological data to uncover patterns for crop protection.
• Support experts in understanding product performance and analytics opportunities.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives by interpreting diverse data.
• Guide design of field trials to validate scientific hypotheses.
• Engage with digital transformation projects to enhance data science impact.

Skills

Data science foundations

Python analytics libraries

Scientific domain knowledge

Machine learning models

Generative AI approaches

Data insights communication

Adaptability

Data visualization

Analytical problem-solving

Education

Postgraduate degree in data science or related field

Tools

Python

Job description

Company Description

Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. We offer a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform the decision‑making capabilities of farmers. Our 17,900 employees serve to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group.

Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. No matter what your position, you will have a vital role in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture!

Job Description

Position: Data Scientist - Agriculture

Location: We could consider candidates based at additional locations within Europe

Application process: Carefully read instructions in "Additional Information" section

We have an exciting opportunity for Data Scientists to join our Global Data Analytics & Predictive Science Team in Product Biology department. Within these roles you will work on Syngenta historical biological data to uncover patterns and deliver new data‑driven insights for active ingredient development across R&D functions. You will be asked to analyse and interpret the outcome of scientific experiments with your analytical skills as well as machine learning approaches. Your work will bring forward our understanding of biological performance in crop protection and guide design, optimization and development of novel crop protection solutions. Key responsibilities will include:

• Driving historical data analysis of biological field trials by identifying patterns and analyzing the impact of key factors including product formulations, rates, mixtures, agricultural practices, and environmental conditions on product performance.
• Supporting domain experts in understanding product performance and identifying analytics opportunities to drive business value.
• Contributing to strategic business initiatives across Crop Protection R&D by interpreting physical chemistry, biokinetic, formulation, marketing and environmental data to support decision taking and design laboratory, glasshouse and field trials.
• Guiding technical managers in designing field trials aimed at validating scientific hypotheses and model predictions.
• Working with R&D IT and software developers to improve data‑models integrations and to deploy applications tailored on shareholders’ needs.
• Monitoring and exploring new modelling approaches, analytical tools and methodologies.
• Engaging with high‑priority digital transformation projects to understand opportunities to accelerate the impact of data science for predictive field trialing.
• Working with colleagues and external collaborators understanding their complementary capabilities and integrating them into projects and initiatives.

Qualifications

What we are looking for

• Strong foundations in data science at postgraduate level with applications in natural sciences (e.g. biology, ecology, environmental sciences).
• Proven experience in the use of the main data‑science, analytics, modelling and visualization Python libraries, including machine learning and deep learning ones.
• Scientific domain knowledge in related fields such as environmental sciences or biology.
• Prior experience in developing machine‑learning models relevant to biological or crop protection outcomes.
• Hands‑on experience leveraging generative AI (genAI) approaches for data exploration, model development, or research acceleration is a plus.
• Knowledge of data analysis and extracting data insights and new understanding, while communicating scientific and data concepts to specialist and non‑specialist audiences.
• Adaptability to different business challenges and data types / sources and to learn and utilize a range of different analytical tools and methodologies.
• Ability to visualize and story‑telling with data to communicate results to shareholders with different levels of technical proficiency.
• Analytical problem‑solving skills with innovative thinking, while effectively collaborating across diverse teams and managing multiple priorities in a multicultural scientific environment.

Additional Information

Location

We could consider candidates based at additional locations within Europe. You may be required to travel to international R&D locations and to work with collaborators globally.

Application process

Due to exceptionally high interest in this position, we will only consider applications that include: (1) a CV, (2) a cover letter explaining your motivation and suitability for the role, and (3) a one‑page document in which you tell us how (with which tools and algorithms, following which strategy) you would start exploring a 100MB CSV dataset of efficacy field trial results for a novel crop protection product including assessments for multiple crop types, trial sites and weather conditions.

Please upload your CV, your cover letter and the one‑page document in separate files named “CV_###”, “Cover_Letter_###”, and “Answer_###”, replacing ‘###’ with your family name.

What we offer

• Extensive benefits package including a generous pension scheme, bonus scheme, private medical & life insurance (depends on the contracting country).
• Flexible working.
• A position which contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment.
• Learning culture and a wide range of training options.

Syngenta has been ranked as a top 5 employer and number 1 in agriculture by Science Magazine for the 8th consecutive year.

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. Learn more about our D&I initiatives here: https://www.syngenta.com/careers/working-syngenta/diversity-and-inclusion