Research Associate

Corteva Agriscience; Johnston (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits for you and yourfamily

Four weeks paid time off + well-being

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Vylor, Inc. is seeking a Research Associate to execute controlled environment research and greenhouse experiments, coordinating with internal teams to deliver compliant, timely results.

You will plan and run projects, perform pollinations and tissue sampling, collect data, and use in‑house software tools to analyze results, while communicating with stakeholders. The role requires a life sciences degree or equivalent experience, strong attention to detail, and collaborative teamwork in a

Qualifications

• Degree in agriculture, horticulture, plant sciences, or related field or 3+ years of equivalent experience.
• At least 1 year of greenhouse or field experience with crops.
• Strong attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute greenhouse experiments and manage data inputs.
• Support herbicide tolerance pipeline by applying herbicides in spray booth.
• Review projects using molecular analysis data (genotyping, qPCR, sequencing).
• Collaborate with internal/external stakeholders on timelines and needs.
• Use in-house software to plan analyses and review results.
• Assist with day-to-day greenhouse tasks (pollinations, plant care).

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organizational skills

MS Office

Teamwork

Education

Bachelors/Associate in agriculture or related field

Tools

MS Office

Internal research software

Job description

Join Vylor—Powering the Future of Agriculture

At Vylor, we’re advancing agriculture through breakthrough science—combining elite germplasm, cutting-edge biotech, and next-generation expertise in gene editing and molecular breeding. Our portfolio includes trusted industry brands like Pioneer®, Brevant®, and Hoegemeyer®, delivering performance farmers rely on.

Join us to help scale innovation globally and shape what’s next in crop science.

We are seeking a Research Associate. The full-time position will be a tactical liaison (project manager) responsible for the execution of research experiments within Controlled Environments. Routine duties include project management, pollinating, tissue sampling, data collection and handling, along with general greenhouse work. Must maintain a professional, clean and safe work environment while meeting all compliance standards. All duties require a high level of attention to detail, organizational skills, and an ability to work effectively in teams as well as individually. Effective and frequent communication with multiple stakeholders is required.

What You’ll Do:

• Planning and executing greenhouse experiments including preparation of project requests, inputting experimental data, and communication with internal process leads

• Support the Herbicide Tolerance pipeline by mixing and applying herbicides via spray booth.

• Review and make decisions related to projects based on results from various molecular analysis platforms (genotyping, real-time PCR, next-generation sequencing)

• Collaborate effectively with internal partners and external stakeholders on timelines, experiment needs, troubleshooting, and process improvements

• Utilize in-house developed software tools to plan analyses, execute on plans, and review data

• Assist with day to day greenhouse activities such as pollinations, plant care, discards, etc.

What Skills You Need:

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree in agriculture, horticulture, plant physiology, molecular biology, entomology, plant pathology or a related field preferred or three or more years of related experience or equivalent amounts of relevant education and experience.

• A minimum of one year of field or greenhouse experience in various crop growth and development is required.

• Ability to pay close attention to detail and follow standard operating and safety/ergonomics protocols is essential.

• Excellent communication and organizational skills, a high degree of self-motivation, and a positive attitude.

• Robust computer skills required, including MS Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook), and ability to gain competency with internally developed research software.

• Must be able to stand and sit for long periods of time and lift up to 30 lbs. Must be able to tolerate hours of repetitive work in a warm, humid greenhouse with pollen present year-round.

Competencies:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are required.

• Proven ability to work individually and as a member of a dynamic, diverse, and cross-functional team with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrate ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities.

• Capacity to creatively solve problems, implement solutions, and foster a culture of continuous operational excellence.

• Knowledge of pipeline functions, such as controlled environments, transformation, vector construction, and/or analytical labs preferred.

• Capable of independent decision making and adjusting to tight timelines.

• Be self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation is not available for this position.

Benefits – How We’ll Support You:

• Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills

• Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place

• Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment

• Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays

• Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father

• Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program

• Learn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva Benefits (https://hrportal.ehr.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=2Nre68t3vrs%3d&portalid=351)

• Check out life at Vylor! https://www.linkedin.com/company/vylorgenetics/

We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.

Corteva announced to separate our current advanced seed and genetics business to establish a standalone company, operating as Vylor, Inc. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to legal requirements and board approval. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the separation, you would be an employee of Vylor, Inc. and your employment would be governed by Vylor, Inc. employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by Vylor, Inc. at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.

Vylor is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.

Corteva Agriscience™ is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to boldly embracing the power of inclusion, diversity, and equity to enrich the lives of our employees and strengthen the performance of our company, while advancing equity in agriculture. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. Discrimination, harassment and retaliation are inconsistent with our values and will not be tolerated. If you require a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit:Accessibility Page for Contact Information

For US Applicants: See the ‘Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law’ poster. To all recruitment agencies: Corteva does not accept unsolicited third party resumes and is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.