Protein Design Intern

Syngenta Group; 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 Seeds Field Crops in Durham, NC seeks a Protein Design Intern to work on computational protein design within a high-performance scientific team. You will contribute to cutting-edge solutions for agricultural biotechnology and gain hands-on experience in a collaborative program.

The role offers exposure to day-to-day operations, opportunities to apply academic knowledge, and development of professional skills in a supportive, interdisciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD student in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Structural Biology, or related field.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R for bioinformatics; PyRosetta a plus.
• Familiarity with protein structure prediction methods (AlphaFold2, ESMFold, Boltz).
• Familiarity with protein structure visualization (PyMOL or ChimeraX).
• Experience with Linux/Unix command-line environments.
• Knowledge of sequence analysis tools (BLAST, alignment methods).

Responsibilities

• Apply structural bioinformatics methods to discover novel proteins.
• Develop computational workflows that integrate sequence- and structure-based search algorithms to identify and rank protein candidates.
• Leverage protein structure-based search workflows using FoldSeek, ESMFold, and Boltz.
• Perform structural analysis and annotation of protein candidates.
• Develop Python/Bash scripts for data processing and visualization.
• Document workflows, create user guides, and present findings to cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with other scientists to refine research strategies based on biological insights.
• Share results and learnings at team meetings and educate team members on workflows and results.

Skills

Python

R

PyRosetta

Linux

BLAST

Sequence analysis

Education

MS/PhD candidate

Tools

FoldSeek

ESMFold

Boltz

PyMOL

ChimeraX

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.

Accountabilities:

• Apply structural bioinformatics methods to discover novel proteins.
• Develop computational workflows that integrate sequence- and structure-based search algorithms to identify and rank protein candidates.
• Leverage protein structure-based search workflows using tools such as FoldSeek, ESMFold, and Boltz.
• Perform structural analysis and annotation of protein candidates.
• Develop Python/Bash scripts for data processing and visualization.
• Document workflows, create user guides, and present findings to cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with other scientists to refine research strategies based on biological insights.
• Share results and learnings at team meetings and educate team members on workflows and results.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: Education:

• Current MS or PhD student in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Structural Biology, or a related field.

Technical:

• Proficiency in Python and/or R for bioinformatics (PyRosetta a plus).
• Familiarity with protein structure prediction methods (AlphaFold2, ESMFold, Boltz).
• Familiarity with protein structure visualization (PyMOL or ChimeraX).
• Experience with Linux/Unix command-line environments.
• Knowledge of sequence analysis tools (BLAST, alignment methods).

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 with protein structure comparison tools (TM-align, FoldSeek).
• Experience with protein function prediction tools (InterProScan or ESM-based methods).
• Knowledge of protein databases (PDB, UniProt, AlphaFoldDB, ESM Metagenomic Atlas).
• Experience with HPC or cloud computing (e.g., AWS).
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Enthusiasm for learning new computational methods and tools.
• Experience presenting technical work to multidisciplinary 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.

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