Scientist I

Syngenta Group•Durham, NC

2h•Onsite

About The Position

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s Seeds Research Traits Team is seeking a Scientist I in Durham, NC. This role will lead the design, development, and optimization of high-throughput processes for lead production in Trait Discovery.

Requirements

Proven track record in developing and optimizing high-throughput workflows for sample production, such as purification and quality control.
Demonstrated leadership in implementing creative, cost-efficient solutions that improve productivity and quality.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence across teams.
Proficiency in advanced sample production techniques across multiple biological platforms (e.g., microbial, plant, cell-free systems).
Ability to independently design experiments, interpret complex data, and make recommendations.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in agricultural biotechnology, life sciences, or a related industry.
Expertise in varied high-throughput screening and automation methods for biological sample production.
Deep knowledge of microbial, plant, and/or cell-free expression systems, strain or host optimization, and cultivation techniques.
Advanced skills in high-throughput production workflows, such as preparation, expression, purification, and quality control across multiple biological platforms.
Hands-on experience with automated liquid handling systems, integrated instrumentation, and workflow optimization.
Experience with transient and stable production systems in plants, microbes, or other hosts.
Proficiency in Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and data management best practices.

Responsibilities

Drive innovation in automated systems for molecular biology, microbial, plant-based, and other biological sample generation platforms.
Integrate cross-disciplinary approaches to accelerate next-generation trait discovery pipelines.
Advance high-throughput platforms for molecular cloning, protein expression, purification, and normalization to meet strategic project goals.
Provide technical leadership in identifying and characterizing potential trait candidates through varied experimental strategies.
Own and lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-throughput sample production platforms, such as molecular cloning, protein expression, purification, and normalization workflows.
Champion innovation and troubleshooting across disciplines, ensuring alignment with Trait Discovery strategic objectives.
Manage and prioritize multiple sample production workflows, ensuring delivery to project timelines.
Evaluate, validate, and deploy novel microbe- and plant-based protein expression systems to expand platform capabilities.
Ensure rigorous experimental design, data integrity, and statistical analysis to support decision-making.
Maintain comprehensive documentation and contribute to high-quality technical reports and publications.
Communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both scientific and non-scientific stakeholders.
Promote a collaborative, safe, and welcoming working environment, modeling scientific excellence and accountability.