Senior Scientist

Syngenta; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental

401k plan with company match

Paid Vacation and Holidays

Wellness Programs

Job summary

Syngenta Seeds Field Crops in Durham, NC, is seeking a doctoral-level scientist to drive discovery, development, and delivery of disease-resistance traits. You will establish high-throughput bioassays for pathogens including plant-parasitic nematodes, in lab and greenhouse settings, and work across Seeds and Crop Protection to ensure durable traits.

You’ll translate host-pathogen insights into practical R&D strategies that benefit growers. Candidates should have a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in plant pathology, nematology, genetics, genomics or related field with 4+ years of nematode-resistance work.
• Excellent knowledge of molecular immunity and crop genetics.
• Hands-on experience with diverse pathogens including plant parasitic nematodes.

Responsibilities

• Design and run experiments to evaluate lead performance against key diseases.
• Develop high-throughput bioassays for pathogens.
• Collaborate with Seeds and Crop Protection to integrate pathology insights.
• Translate host-pathogen insights into practical R&D strategies.

Skills

Plant pathology

Nematology

Genetics

Genomics

Molecular immunity

Team collaboration

Self-motivated

Education

PhD or equivalent in plant pathology, nematology, genetics, genomics or related field

Tools

Database familiarity

Statistical software

Job description

Company Description

At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops, we're shaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel. We’re a 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.

Company Description

At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops, we're shaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel. We’re a 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

This role is responsible for driving the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative biotech traits that provide resistance to disease through hands-on experimentation and close collaboration with experts and cross-functional teams both within and outside of Syngenta. The position establishes and optimizes high-throughput bioassays for multiple pathogens, including plant-parasitic nematodes, in both laboratory and greenhouse environments. Working collaboratively across Seeds and Crop Protection, the role integrates pathology insights into the product development pipeline to ensure traits and products are durable, broad-spectrum, and effective. By investigating host-pathogen interactions and translating scientific discoveries into actionable research and development strategies, this position plays a vital role in advancing durable disease-control solutions from early-stage research to practical applications that benefit farmers in the field.

Accountabilities

• Design and implement experiments to evaluate lead performance against key diseases including soybean cyst nematode from collecting inoculum, culture inoculum at appropriate scales, inoculation and disease susceptible/tolerance/resistance ratings in lab and GH environments.
• Innovate in new trait discovery and design to tackle business critical disease targets
• Develop correlations of disease susceptible/tolerance/resistance ratings in different environments as required by project.
• Create and test hypothesis and make recommendations as crop pathology experts
• Be the focal point of creating, internalizing and implementing plant pathology techniques and knowledge that enable the organization to meet the needs of the growers
• Seek out, identify, communicate and encourage examples of best practice from internal and external sources

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in plant pathology, nematology, genetics, genomics or related field, and 4+ years professional experience working in improving crop resistance against plant parasitic nematodes
• Excellent knowledge of molecular immunity and crop genetics
• Strong scientific acumen, self-motivated and striving for continuous improvement
• Strong sense of ownership in a team environment
• Recognized experts in plant pathology and nematology demonstrated by peer reviewed journals.
• Solid hands-on experience of working with diverse pathogens including plant parasitic nematodes
• Disciplined and rigorous approach to hypothesis-driven research, process improvement and change management
• Innovative and critical mind-sets with solid knowledge and skills in order to improve and challenge established ways of working

Desired Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on experience applying general and modern pathology sills in dissecting genetic resistance/tolerance in crops.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems through innovative pathology approaches
• Advanced expertise of principles and activities in genetic and biochemical experimental setup
• At least 5+ years of laboratory work experience including: Daily working with plant nematodes, expert in large scale nematode production, infection, rating and reporting, proficiency in use of standard software and familiarity with databases, demonstrated experience in working effectively as a member of a dynamic and, multi-disciplinary team, being flexible and able to work on different assignments as needed, effectively implement and communicate results, and perform plant studies independently or as part of a team.

Additional Information

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. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.
• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day.
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI

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