SPD Data Scientist Intern

Vylor Inc.; Windfall City (IN); On-site; USD 22,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Vylor Inc. is seeking a Breeding Data Scientist Intern in Johnston, IA to apply data science and quantitative omics skills within a commercial plant breeding program. You will work with breeding analysts, statisticians, and breeders on a focused project with a clear deliverable that informs our pipelines.

You will design analyses, frame questions, and land a recommendation with support and room to drive it yourself. Internship duration is 3 months in Summer 2027 with potential extension.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD student in Plant Breeding, Quantitative Genetics, Agronomy, Data Science, or related fields.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to explore analytic solutions by asking the right questions, analyzing data, and producing actionable results.
• Bias toward application: prefer practical answers over methodological elegance.
• Experience with phenotypic and genomic datasets in R or Python for analysis and visualization.
• Familiarity with statistical modeling, machine learning, or simulation techniques applied to biological systems.
• Interest in collaboration and communication while working in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and evaluate breeding strategies that leverage traditional and modern quantitative methods.
• Lead a project by framing the question, choosing the approach, running analysis, and delivering a recommendation.
• Navigate genomic, phenotypic, environmental, and other data within breeding pipelines to improve selection accuracy.
• Interact with breeders to understand how technologies affect breeding decisions and field outcomes.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Problem solving

Data analysis (R/Python)

Genomic datasets

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MS or PhD student in Plant Breeding/Quantitative Genetics/Agronomy/Data Science

Tools

R

Python

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.

Are you the kind of scientist who looks at a result and asks “what is this really telling us, and what do we do differently tomorrow?” Do you like taking a messy, open-ended question and turning it into an answer someone can act on? If so, you might be a great fit for our Breeding Data Scientist Intern position.

Vylor isseeking a graduate student who wants to apply data science and quantitative omics skills to real decisions in a commercial plant breeding program. You will work alongside breeding analysts, statisticians, and breeders on a focused project with a clear deliverable — something that informs how we run our pipelines, not a study that ends on a shelf.

At Vylor, we are committed to transforming agriculture through innovation. Join us in shaping the future of plant breeding and delivering improved varieties to farmers around the world.

In this role, you will:

• Partner closely with scientists in the North America Technology Deployment team to design, develop, and evaluate breeding strategies that leverage both traditional and modern quantitative methods.
• Lead a project by helping frame the question, choose the approach, run the analysis, and land a recommendation — with support and feedback along the way, but with real room to drive it yourself.
• Learn to navigate genomic, phenotypic, environmental, and/or other types of data within breeding pipelines to improve selection accuracy and decision-making.
• Interact with breeders to understand how technologies affect breeding decisions and understand how your own results can impact in the field.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Job Qualifications:

• MS or PhD student in Plant Breeding, Quantitative Genetics, Agronomy, Data Science, or related fields.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to explore analytic solutions by asking the right questions, analyzing data, and producing actionable results.
• A bias toward application: comfortable choosing a method that is good enough to answer the question and judging your work by the decision it improves rather than by its sophistication.
• Experience working with phenotypic and genomic datasets in R or Python for data analysis and visualization.
• Familiarity with statistical modeling, machine learning, or simulation techniques applied to biological systems.
• Interest in building collaboration and communication skills while working in cross-functional teams.

What will set you apart:

• Intellectual boldness: willingness to question an assumption, propose an unconventional approach, and defend it with evidence — as well as the judgment to know when to drop an idea that is not working.
• Creativity in both directions: in how you interpret data and results, and in how you build the algorithm or workflow that gets you there.
• Hands-on experience with genomic selection, genetic algorithms, environmental or omics modeling in a breeding context.
• Understanding of breeding program design, selection theory, and genetic evaluation methods.
• Experience applying machine learning and/or artificial intelligence to breeding problems.
• Proactive and self-directed — you identify what needs doing next, ask for what you need, and move forward without waiting to be told.
• A passion for applying science to solve real-world agricultural challenges.

Location: Johnston, IA (preferred; other locations may be available)

Duration: 3 months Summer 2027 internship, with the option to extend up to a total of 6 months if there are mutual interest and availability

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.