Bioinformatics Intern - Protein Design

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 28,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Professional development

Work-life balance

Job summary

Syngenta's Bioinformatics Team in Durham, NC invites a Protein Design Intern to work on cutting-edge computational protein design for agricultural biotechnology. You will gain hands-on experience in designing, ranking, and optimizing protein candidates within a high-performance scientific team as part of Syngenta's Emerging Talent Program.

The internship runs May 2027 through August 2027. You'll develop Python/Bash scripts, test design workflows on Linux/HPC or AWS, and collaborate across

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing MS/PhD in related fields.
• Proficient in Python and Bash.
• Familiar with protein design tools and structure prediction.
• Experience with Linux/Unix environments.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Apply protein design methods to generate candidates.
• Design, rank, and filter candidates using computational metrics.
• Develop scripts for data processing and workflow automation.
• Document workflows and present findings to teams.
• Collaborate with scientists to refine design strategy.
• Summarize results in reports and visuals.

Skills

Python

Bash scripting

Communication

Education

Current MS or PhD student in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/Structural Biology/Biochemistry/Computer Science or related field

Tools

PyMOL

ProteinMPNN

Boltz-2

BoltzGen

AlphaFold

RFdiffusion

AWS

Job description

At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops,we'reshaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel.We’rea global Ag Tech powerhouse, headquartered in the United States, with passionate, local experts collaborating with farmers to deliver solutions that create market opportunities.We unite precision breeding, advanced biotechnology trait choice, and digital platforms for unmatched in-field performance.Our seeds help mitigate risks such as disease,insect,weed, and extreme weather pressures, all while promoting sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance our planet. Join our mission of revolutionizing food security and transforming agriculture.

Job Description

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. We invite you to help shape the future of agriculture and play a role in safely feeding the world while caring for our planet.

Syngenta's Bioinformatics Team is seeking a Protein Design Intern in Durham, NC. This internship role will be part of a high-performance scientific team, developing cutting-edge skills in computational protein design to deliver innovative solutions for agricultural biotechnology.

As part of Syngenta's Emerging Talent Program, you will gain hands-on experience, exposure to day-to-day business operations, and opportunities to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing your professional skills.

Duration: May 2027 - August 2027

Role Purpose:

• Apply computational protein design methods to generate novel protein candidates and minibinders to selected targets.
• Optimize workflows that integrate protein design, structure prediction, and ranking approaches to identify promising candidates.
• Evaluate designed protein variants using sequence- and structure-based analyses.

Accountabilities:

• Leverage open-source protein design and structure prediction workflows using tools such as ProteinMPNN, BoltzGen, and Boltz-2.
• Design, rank, and filter protein candidates based on predicted structure, interface quality, and computational metrics.
• Perform structural analysis and annotation of designed proteins and protein-protein interfaces.
• Test and run computational protein design tools in Linux, HPC, or cloud-based environments such as AWS.
• Develop Python/Bash scripts for data processing, workflow automation, and visualization.
• Document workflows, create user guides and READMEs, and present findings to cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with and take guidance from other scientists to refine design strategy based on biological insights.
• Summarize design results in clear reports, visualizations, and recommendations for follow-up testing.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Current MS or PhD student in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Computer Science, or related field.

Technical:

• Proficiency in Python and basic Bash scripting.
• Basic understanding of protein structure concepts, including protein domains, structural alignment, and protein-protein interfaces.
• Familiarity with protein structure prediction methods such as Boltz-2 or AlphaFold.
• Familiarity with generative protein design or sequence design tools such as RFdiffusion or ProteinMPNN.
• Familiarity with protein structure visualization tools (PyMOL).
• Experience with Linux/Unix command-line environments.

Analytical:

• Ability to work with large datasets and implement reproducible computational workflows.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience evaluating protein-protein interfaces using structural or energetic metrics (e.g. PyRosetta).
• Knowledge of protein databases such as PDB, UniProt, AlphaFoldDB, or ESM Metagenomic Atlas.
• Experience with HPC or cloud computing environments, such as AWS.
• Experience with workflow automation, containerized tools, or reproducible software environments.
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Enthusiasm for learning new computational methods and tools.
• Experience presenting technical work to diverse audiences.

Additional Information

Salary for this position ranges between $20 - $45 hourly.

What We Offer:

• A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
• Competitive wages
• The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems

Syngenta is committed to creatinga culturethat celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members

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