Senior Vector Scientist - Cloning & Gene Expression

Syngenta Group; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401k plan

Paid vacation

Education assistance

Wellness programs

Job summary

Syngenta Group in Durham, NC seeks a Senior Scientist with expertise in molecular biology, vector construction, gene expression and trait development to advance Seeds Research R&D programs. You will lead HTS cloning platforms, drive automation adoption, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate across gene expression, genome editing, bioinformatics, and trait teams to deliver GM and GE traits.

You will guide projects with a strong focus on vector construction, regulatory elements, and pipeline

Qualifications

• PhD in plant biology/genetics/biotech with 5+ years industrial research or Master's with 8+ years and leadership.
• Excellent knowledge of plant biology/physiology and genetics, especially corn/soy.
• GM herbicide and insect control trait discovery and development.
• Strong technical leadership with a team-oriented approach.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Develop molecular cloning strategies and deliver high-quality vectors for GM/GE trait pipelines.
• Lead development and implementation of high-throughput cloning platforms and workflows.
• Drive adoption of automation, digital tools, and data-driven solutions to improve throughput and reproducibility.
• Collaborate with trait, gene expression, genome editing, bioinformatics, and transformation teams to design constructs and lead vector construction.
• Apply gene expression and regulatory element knowledge to optimize construct performance for trait validation.
• Evaluate and implement new molecular biology technologies to enhance vector construction capabilities.
• Mentor, train, and develop junior scientists while promoting scientific excellence and standardized methods.
• Maintain high-quality records, perform sequence analysis, and contribute to data management/LIMS.

Skills

Molecular biology expertise

Leadership

English fluency

Education

PhD in Plant Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, or related discipline

Master’s Degree in a related field

Job description

Syngenta Group in Durham, NC seeks a Senior Scientist with expertise in molecular biology, vector construction, gene expression and trait development to advance Seeds Research R&D programs. You will lead HTS cloning platforms, drive automation adoption, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate across gene expression, genome editing, bioinformatics, and trait teams to deliver GM and GE traits.

You will guide projects with a strong focus on vector construction, regulatory elements, and pipeline