Research Associate

Role Purpose 

• Responsible for a portfolio of pathology assays / Physiology tests, and day-to-day delivery of tasks within a project, or routine platform.
• Provides/develops expertise in practical handling/culture of pests and pathogens.
• Performs routine scientific research tasks requiring the application of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.
• Carry out experiments and research according to protocols laid out by Trait Assessment Team.
• Perform day-to-day greenhouse, field, and laboratory activities including planting, tissue sampling, pest/disease scouting, harvesting, data collection, data recording at multi-location disease screening trials, and database management.
• Assist in developing disease screening projects and conduct disease screening trials in the polyhouse, and field, and record the observations for assigned crops.
• Contribute to the development of new protocols for measuring complex physiology and pathology traits.
• Assist in plant disease survey and collection, disease diagnosis, and identification.
• Assist in running the laboratory-pathogen cultures maintenance, purification, preservation, and multiplication of target pathogen cultures in labs and greenhouses and lab equipment maintenance.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Direct people's responsibility

Authority level:

• In charge of the specific project activity in a given crop at the site.

Work coverage:

• Coordinate plot locations and logistics with the Biological Operations Team (BO) to ensure plots are of the desired characteristics, measured, and flagged accurately.
• Align with BO that Trait Assessment trials are maintained to follow SOPs standards to apply fertilizer, herbicide, and insecticides.
• Ensure that laboratory and field notebooks are consistently updated, audited, and well-maintained.
• Responsible for guiding workers and seasonal workers to perform routine activities according to protocols.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and inventory.
• Maintain facility (greenhouses, laboratory) cleanliness with safety standards.
• Ensures proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
• Promotes continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices.
• Performs data collection to ensure data integrity, quality control, and protocol compliance.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Responsible for:

• Project activity timeline for key deliverables like protocol development, and disease screening trials.
• Carry out disease screening of vegetable crops at a site in the field / polyhouse & identify and confirm the resistant sources.
• Executing plan for allotted work at the site.
• Planning for judicious use of resources.

Administrative responsibility:

• Timely reporting of work responsibility to Trait Assessment Lead.
• Monitoring trait project lab assistants/workers for output of the results, crop cultivation, screening, etc. on time.
• Coordination with the biological operation and breeding team.
• Work mainly paperless, efficiently use software for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Look for ways to use IT to create opportunities to improve practical activities.

Financial responsibility:

• Cost-effective work management, utilization of available resources for maximum output, measure return on investments made, economic usage of inputs.

HSE role and responsibility:

• Take personal responsibility and cooperate to prevent harm to themselves, complies country and site HSE regulations be cooperative with HSE, and prompt report of all incidents/accidents/near misses and hazards to line manager/supervisor.
• Dedication to working safely under company safety policies and practices

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

Critical Knowledge:

• BS.C. or MS.C. in plant pathology, preferred 2 years or more experience.
• Basics of Plant Pathology, Entomology, Disease/insect symptomatology, pathogen identification, and laboratory techniques.
• Knowledge of the physiology of vegetable crops and related quality traits.

Critical Skills:

• Fluent communication in the local language and ability to communicate effectively (Verbal and Written) in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a team-based and cross-functional team environment; create a positive and cooperative work environment.
• Ability to analyze information, summarize findings, and present them in ways easily understandable to decision-makers.

Critical Experience:

• Background in laboratory testing and general familiarity with laboratory equipment and computer basics.
• Pathology/entomology techniques - lab & field; artificial disease/pest screening.
• Relevant practical experience in disease screening of relevant crops and their execution, disease/insect resistance, and management.