PhD Internship: Field-Driven Tomato Harvesting Innovator

Bayer AG; Woodland (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Vision

Dental

Retirement

PTO

Sick leave

Job summary

Bayer Crop Science invites a PhD candidate to join a 3‑month on‑site internship in Woodland, California, to advance tomato harvesting innovations through field trials, mechanized harvesting, and cross‑functional collaboration. You will work with scientists, phenotyping specialists, and tomato breeders to develop and test harvester designs, collect data, and report results while adhering to safety training.

This role emphasizes rigorous experimental design, data analysis, and clear communication

Qualifications

• Currently a PhD candidate (successfully passed comprehensive/qualifying exam) in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science.
• Experience with field trialing, protocol development, independent project management, and mechanization/automation.
• Well‑versed in experimental design, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and testing of tomato harvester designs.
• Conduct field trials to evaluate harvester efficiency and effectiveness in real-world conditions.
• Conduct field experiments to develop and test inbred lines for crop resilience and quality.
• Collect and analyze data on plant performance and harvesting effectiveness.
• Engage in field trials to assess the quality of tomato varieties and contribute to post-harvest innovation.
• Design data collection protocols and execute field experiments with meticulous attention to detail.
• Communicate results and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Adhere to safety guidelines and complete required training sessions.

Skills

Field trialing

Protocol development

Independent project management

Mechanization/automation

Experimental design

Quantitative analysis

Data interpretation

Team collaboration

Education

PhD candidate in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science

Job description

Bayer Crop Science invites a PhD candidate to join a 3‑month on‑site internship in Woodland, California, to advance tomato harvesting innovations through field trials, mechanized harvesting, and cross‑functional collaboration. You will work with scientists, phenotyping specialists, and tomato breeders to develop and test harvester designs, collect data, and report results while adhering to safety training.

This role emphasizes rigorous experimental design, data analysis, and clear communication