Scientific Expert Plant Microbe Chemical Signal

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs. Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting.  From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland. 

Health Promotion Switzerland recognizes Syngenta's commitment to the health and well-being of its employees and awards the "Friendly Work Space" label to all its Swiss sites. At Syngenta, employee health and well-being are key to the company.

Role purpose

The position focuses on studying and utilizing chemical signals both below and above ground to optimize crop performance. The work involves applying chemical-microbial ecological approaches to uncover new mechanisms in how plants respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. The role includes collaborating with other teams on meta-omics initiatives and deepening our understanding of rhizospheric microbial structures and functions, particularly in relation to chemical signals. As a soil expert, the position actively contributes to discovering new crop protection solutions based on belowground chemical signals, while supporting Lead Generation initiatives, early research projects, and product development.

Accountabilities

• Designing and building new critical plant-soil-microbiota testing systems to study the chemical communication belowground
• Performing targeted and untargeted chemical analysis and data interpretation in the developed soil-plant-microbiota testing systems
• Developing new analytical approaches to improve the workflow and data generations
• Collaborating closely with other teams to support the main business imperatives and participating in developing new research strategies

• PhD in chemical microbial ecology or , metabolomics and/or analytical chemistry and/or soil biology/plant nutrition
• Fluency in English; German is advantageous
• Experience in large data analysis and quantification of natural molecules
• Experience in data-mining and combinations of different "omics" source
• Metabolomics/ microbiome expertise, experience in study design and implementation of plant/soil metabolomic investigation, particularly around root exudates.
• Familiar with the major approaches to study behaviour of chemicals in soil as transport and transformation processes.
• Familiar with the below ground plant nutrition processes and root functionality
• Familiar with microbial ecology investigations
• Proven skills to work at different investigation scales from lab to the field.
• Mastering wide range of analytical MS equipment

We offer a variety of financial and non-financial benefits including:  

• We offer a position which contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment   
• A superb working environment with an open culture and diverse workforce where new ideas are always welcome  
• The opportunity to work with and learn from highly qualified and experienced employees and gain scientific and technical excellence  
• Learning culture (Together we Grow) and wide range of training options  
• You will profit from a competitive pension fund plan, attractive bonus system, onsite doctor, fitness room, canteen, and other benefits (Family friendly initiatives, Child and Family allowance…)  

Please send your complete application with CV, motivation letter, diploma, research summary and work certificates (if applicable).

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.