Tomato Intern for Innovative Projects

Bayer AG; Woodland (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Vision

Dental

Retirement

PTO

Sick leave

Job summary

Bayer Crop Science invites a PhD candidate to join a 3‑month on‑site internship in Woodland, California, to advance tomato harvesting innovations through field trials, mechanized harvesting, and cross‑functional collaboration. You will work with scientists, phenotyping specialists, and tomato breeders to develop and test harvester designs, collect data, and report results while adhering to safety training.

This role emphasizes rigorous experimental design, data analysis, and clear communication

Qualifications

• Currently a PhD candidate (successfully passed comprehensive/qualifying exam) in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science.
• Experience with field trialing, protocol development, independent project management, and mechanization/automation.
• Well‑versed in experimental design, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and testing of tomato harvester designs.
• Conduct field trials to evaluate harvester efficiency and effectiveness in real-world conditions.
• Conduct field experiments to develop and test inbred lines for crop resilience and quality.
• Collect and analyze data on plant performance and harvesting effectiveness.
• Engage in field trials to assess the quality of tomato varieties and contribute to post-harvest innovation.
• Design data collection protocols and execute field experiments with meticulous attention to detail.
• Communicate results and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Adhere to safety guidelines and complete required training sessions.

Skills

Field trialing

Protocol development

Independent project management

Mechanization/automation

Experimental design

Quantitative analysis

Data interpretation

Team collaboration

Education

PhD candidate in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

In this internship within the Precision Genomics–adjacent tomato harvesting initiative at Bayer Crop Science, you will advance innovations in tomato harvesting by identifying and solving steps to improve marketable yield for mechanically harvested tomato varieties, leveraging advanced technologies and cross‑functional collaboration to implement solutions across tomato product pipelines.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Bayer Crop Science has an opportunity for an exceptional Ph.D. candidate to join a research team on site in Woodland, California, for a 3‑month internship. The successful candidate will collaborate with scientists, phenotyping specialists, and tomato breeders to support the continued development of a machine‑harvesting process for tomatoes and will spend significant time working in a field environment.

The primary responsibilities of this role include:

• Assist in the development and testing of tomato harvester designs;
• Conduct field trials to evaluate the harvester’s efficiency and effectiveness in real‑world conditions;
• Conduct field experiments to develop and test various inbred lines aimed at improving crop resilience and quality;
• Collect and analyze data on plant performance and overall harvesting effectiveness;
• Engage in field trials to assess the quality of different tomato varieties, contributing to post‑harvest innovation;
• Design data collection protocols and execute field experiments with meticulous attention to detail;
• Communicate results and recommendations clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences;
• Adhere to all safety guidelines and complete required training sessions.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Currently a PhD candidate (successfully passed comprehensive/qualifying exam) in one of the following (or similar) areas: Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science;
• Experience with field trialing, protocol development, independent project management, and mechanization/automation;
• Well‑versed in experimental design, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary of approximately between $22.75 to $47.75. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits may include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc (if relevant). This salary (or salary range) is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant’s location, market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

This posting will be available for application until at least March 19, 2027

Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Notice for U.S. Visitors: All information on this site is subject to compliance with local rule and regulations as they may vary from time to time and across different geographies, including, without limitation, U.S. Executive Orders.