Vegetable Seed Production Research Intern

About Syngenta 

At Syngenta Vegetables and Flowers, we're cultivating tomorrow's variety through innovative breeding that brings vibrant colors to gardens and nutritious vegetables to tables worldwide. We combine centuries of seed heritage with cutting-edge innovation to develop resilient, high-performing varieties that thrive in diverse climates. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable horticulture, where every seed holds the potential to enhance lives through better nutrition and natural beauty. 

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. We invite you to help shape the future of agriculture and play a role in safely feeding the world while caring for our planet. 

Syngenta’s Production & Supply Team is seeking a Vegetable Seed Production Research Intern in Caldwell, ID.

As part of Syngenta's Emerging Talent Program, you will gain hands-on experience, exposure to day-to-day business operations, and opportunities to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing your professional skills. 

Accountabilities:

• Provide the intern with the opportunity to be exposed to Seed Parent Characterization activities, allowing them to apply their academic background and assist in department activities, from trial design, preparation, maintenance, harvesting, and laboratory tasks to data analysis.
• Allow the intern to develop a good understanding of new sweetcorn and garden bean development and parent characterization activities by taking a lead role in one of the Seed Parent Characterization projects.
• Strengthen new product advancements through the assessment of important traits for seed production at early breeding stages.
• Take the lead on project management and execution according to the assigned project. Ensure that field activities (planting, plot maintenance, bird netting, and harvest) for research plots are executed. This comprises routine site/farm maintenance activities, such as planting plots, applying treatments, collecting observations and in-season data, and maintaining the plots throughout the growing season. Fall activities comprise harvest stand counts and actual plot harvest.
• Support other Seed Parent Characterization activities, as well as agronomic trial activities at the home site.
• Develop and maintain two-way communication with project managers, Field Production Research (FPR) Scientists, Agronomists, and Parent Seed colleagues at the home site. Additionally, communicate with people from different areas, from breeding all the way to commercial seed production, aiming to gain a good understanding of the whole chain.
• Assist with managing and developing part-time workers.
• Analyze data and prepare a research report and presentation for the assigned project.
• Lead daily routine equipment maintenance and preparation to ensure maximum precision in all treatment applications.
• Ensure all activities are conducted according to Company safety procedures and recommendations, and promote environmentally sustainable solutions.

Required Qualifications:

• Requires a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Biology, Ag Business, or another closely related field of study.
• Must have a valid Driver's License.
• All applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Desired Qualifications:

• Communication: The ability to communicate information effectively (both written and spoken) is highly desired.
• Detail-Oriented: All procedures and policies must be understood and followed.
• Autonomous: An independent individual who is self-motivated and needs little supervision.
• Previous internship and/or co-op experience related to agriculture is preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with working on a farm, working with crops, irrigated crops, or working outdoors is preferred but not required.
• The intern will be working in sweetcorn, pea, and bean research plots and should be willing to work in areas where beehives may be present for pollination purposes.
• Confidence: Not afraid to ask bold questions and be curious.
• Eagerness to learn and grow in the role.

Salary for this position ranges between $20 - $45 hourly.

What We Offer: 

• A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. 
• ⁠Competitive wages
• Ongoing career development resources
• The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems

Syngenta is committed to creating a culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members 

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI 

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. 

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