Protein Design Scientist

Syngenta Group•Durham, NC

20h•Onsite

About The Position

As a Protein Design Scientist, you leverage an AI-first approach, utilizing protein language models (pLMs) and generative sequence design to explore sequence-function relationships and pioneer next-generation agricultural traits. As an Applied ML Scientist, you are a hypothesis-driven scientist who leverages and adapts open-source machine learning models to biological data, addressing complex biological questions where data may be sparse and expensive to generate. You are also a collaborative team player who thrives in the dry-to-wet lab loop by turning agricultural and trait challenges into practical machine learning hypotheses and projects, while translating complex ML concepts and outputs into clear, practical suggestions for diverse stakeholders.

Requirements

PhD with +1-year experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, biochemistry & biophysics, or a related field with a focus on protein sequence or structure modeling
Demonstrated hands-on experience developing, adapting, or fine-tuning machine learning models for protein sequence design, variant library generation, protein property prediction, or related biomolecular engineering tasks
Deep understanding of protein sequence-structure-function relationships
Proven ability to transform complex biological challenges into actionable, ML/DL computational hypotheses to support the trait pipeline
Strong communication skills with a track record of working effectively alongside experimental/wet-lab scientists
Experience working with Python and deep learning libraries (like PyTorch or JAX) to adapt or fine-tune open-source models

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating protein structural information, including structure prediction models (AlphaFold, Boltz), structure-aware design methods (ProteinMPNN, GNNs, structure-conditioned pLMs, Foldseek 3Di), or physics-based approaches (Rosetta, molecular dynamics) to augment sequence-based design and prediction workflows.
Strong familiarity of or experience in wet-lab workflows—either in library design or generating screening data for model training or validating designed variants (e.g., protein characterization)—to facilitate seamless communication with experimental partners
Familiarity querying large-scale biological datasets, working in cloud environments (AWS, HPC), and utilizing containerized workflows (Docker, Singularity, Nextflow)
Prior experience in agricultural biotechnology, plant biology, or a strong interest in translating computational protein design to crop science

Responsibilities

Design & Optimize: Formulate biological hypotheses and design computational workflows for large scale variant design and property prediction to accelerate trait discovery
Deploy ML Models: Implement, adapt, and tune state-of-the-art biomolecular ML models—including single-sequence LMs, generative models, co-evolutionary aware architectures, and 3D structural prediction models—to drive innovative projects for the trait pipeline
Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner closely with wet-lab research teams to design variant libraries, leveraging active learning and Bayesian optimization to iteratively integrate experimental screening data into design loops
Communicate Insights: Communicate complex deep learning concepts, protocols, and project progress clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Innovate: Monitor the rapidly changing protein design literature and bring promising new tools and project ideas to the team