Senior Plant Breeding Scientist: Genomics & Field Trials

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

State-of-the-art facilities

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative research environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an Agricultural Scientist specialized in Plant Breeding to join its research team in Upington, Northern Cape. You will design and execute breeding strategies, conduct crosses, evaluate germplasm, and utilize genomic tools to accelerate the breeding process.

The role demands a Ph.D. with 5+ years of breeding experience, strong quantitative genetics skills, and the ability to manage complex projects from conception to commercialization in a climate-resilient crop program.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Crop Science, or closely related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on plant breeding research and development.
• Strong quantitative genetics, experimental design, and statistical analysis skills.
• Experience with molecular breeding and bioinformatics tools.
• Experience managing field-based crop trials and research plots.
• Knowledge of crop physiology and agronomy.
• Excellent problem-solving and scientific communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advance plant breeding programs for key crops.
• Conduct field trials to evaluate germplasm and select superior lines.
• Perform crosses and manage generations for breeding.
• Use marker-assisted selection and genomic tools in breeding strategies.
• Analyze quantitative genetic data to guide decisions.
• Assess crop performance for yield, quality, and stress traits.
• Collaborate with agronomists and other scientists on projects.
• Manage breeding nurseries and germplasm collections.
• Prepare research proposals, publications, and reports.
• Stay updated on latest plant breeding science and tech.

Skills

Quantitative genetics

Experimental design

Statistical analysis

Scientific communication

Independent work

Project management

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or Crop Science

Tools

Bioinformatics tools

Molecular marker techniques

Genomics platforms

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an Agricultural Scientist specialized in Plant Breeding to join its research team in Upington, Northern Cape. You will design and execute breeding strategies, conduct crosses, evaluate germplasm, and utilize genomic tools to accelerate the breeding process.

The role demands a Ph.D. with 5+ years of breeding experience, strong quantitative genetics skills, and the ability to manage complex projects from conception to commercialization in a climate-resilient crop program.