Application Scientist - AgTech

Codon Genomics Sdn Bhd; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative startup is seeking an Application Scientist to drive agricultural advancements through data-driven crop improvement. This role focuses on enhancing oil palm and industrial crops using digital technologies. You will manage projects that integrate software, data analytics, and scientific research, contributing directly to the development of an AgriTech platform. This is a unique opportunity to leverage your expertise in agriculture and biotechnology to create impactful solutions for real-world challenges in the agricultural sector. Join a passionate team dedicated to reshaping the future of farming with cutting-edge technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agritech, Biotechnology, or related field.
• Experience in data science or digital tools in agriculture is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate projects applying digital technologies to oil palm crop improvement.
• Manage software-related projects from requirements gathering to go-live.
• Provide technical support for AGRINOME and related software platforms.

Skills

Data Science

Project Management

Agricultural Biotechnology

Software Development

Digital Tools Application

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agriculture

Master's degree in Biotechnology

Tools

Data Analytics Software

Mobile Applications

Inventory Management Software

Job description

Company Description

Codon Genomics (CoGen) is a Malaysian-based startup founded in 2010, made up of scientists passionate about applying biotechnology, bioinformatics, data science, and software engineering to solve real-world problems. We collaborate with major plantation conglomerates and life science research institutes to help them harness biological data for scientific discovery and operational improvement. We are widely recognized for our expertise in managing and analyzing genomic data, particularly Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), with a proven publication record in international journals. Our work connects genetics with environmental and field performance data, enabling the development of practical applications in addressing critical global challenges such as food security, crop resilience, and disease management.

About the Role

We are hiring an Application Scientist (AgTech) to join our dynamic Application Sciences team. This role is central to advancing agricultural innovation through data-driven crop improvement, with a special focus on oil palm and other industrial crops. The successful candidate will play a key role in project management and technology application, interfacing across teams to deploy software, data analytics, and digital tools for transforming agriculture into a smarter, more sustainable industry. You will be contributing directly to the development and implementation of AGRINOME, our integrated AgriTech platform supporting oil palm crop improvement. AGRINOME spans the entire crop value chain—from plant breeding, seed production, tissue culture, and nursery—with future expansion into agronomy and crop genomics. This is a unique opportunity to apply your background in agriculture, biotechnology, or agritech to real-world projects that combine biology, software, and data to reshape agricultural research and operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist Senior Application Scientist in coordinating projects that apply digital technologies (e.g., software, mobile apps, data analytics) to oil palm crop improvement
• Manage software-related projects end-to-end: from gathering pre-project requirements, conducting functional requirement studies, facilitating user acceptance testing (UAT), to overseeing go-live and sign-off stages
• Serve as a scientific liaison for clients and internal teams, particularly in the agriculture and oil palm sectors
• Work with cross-functional teams (bioinformatics, software engineering, sales, data science) to deploy and improve AGRINOME
• Engage in product testing and provide technical feedback for continuous platform enhancement
• Design and implement experimental plans for digital transformation across various stages of the crop cycle
• Conduct technology demonstrations, user training, and scientific presentations to clients and collaborators
• Provide technical support for AGRINOME and related software platforms, including user onboarding, troubleshooting, issue tracking, and communication with developers for timely resolution
• Collect, analyse, and synthesise feedback from field and lab users to shape the development of AGRINOME and related AgriTech tools
• Stay current with trends in genomics, digital agriculture, and precision farming technologies

Key Characteristics

• Deep interest in AgriTech, digital agriculture, and the use of modern tools (e.g., AI, data science, mobile apps) for solving biological problems
• Passionate about applying science to real-world agricultural challenges
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks or projects independently
• Strong attention to detail with solid analytical and scientific reasoning
• Comfortable working across disciplines (biology, software, data) and bridging technical and non-technical stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Agriculture, Agritech, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or a related field
• Understanding of crop improvement, plant breeding and seed production in agriculture is a plus
• Familiarity with data collection systems, inventory management software, or mobile apps in agriculture is an added advantage
• Experience or knowledge in data science, or digital tools used in agriculture is advantageous
• Strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex information into practical solutions for users