Job Description

At Syngenta, we are committed to helping farmers grow healthier, more resilient crops through world-class seeds, crop protection solutions, and scientific innovation. To support this mission, our Trait Assessment team is looking for a Trait Assessment Scientist to join our site in El Ejido, Almería.

In this role, you will contribute to the development and delivery of robust disease resistance evaluations for vegetable crops. You will design, validate, and improve phenotyping protocols, generate high quality data, and help translate plant pathology insights into decisions that support variety development and trait prioritization.

This opportunity could suit either an experienced plant pathology professional or a recently completed PhD with strong expertise in phytopathology in vegetable crops.

What you will do

Disease resistance evaluation and protocol development:

- Design, develop, and validate phenotyping protocols to evaluate disease resistance across crops varieties.
- Optimize screening methods to ensure reliable, reproducible, and scientifically robust assesments.
- Support the creation and improvement of standards, work instructions, and quality procedures for Trait Assessment activities.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of disease evaluation platforms, scoring methods, and assessment tools.

Plant pathology, scouting, and epidemiological monitoring:

- Monitor crop diseases and pathogen dynamics in field, greenhouse, laboratory, or controlled-environment conditions.
- Conduct disease scouting and assess disease severity using appropriate scales and methodologies.




- Provide data-driven insights to support trait prioritization and adapt evaluation protocols to emerging disease threats.
- Collaborate with internal teams to understand current and future plant health challenges in vegetable crops.

Molecular, digital, and data-driven approaches:

- Apply or support molecular diagnostic tools such as PCR, qPCR, sequencing, or related methods where relevant.
- Use statistical and data analysis approaches to interpret phenotypic and pathology data.
- Contribute to the integration of digital phenotyping tools, disease scoring systems, and data visualization methods.
- Translate scientific findings into clear reports and recommendations for technical and business stakeholders.

Operational coordination and collaboration:

- Plan and coordinate experimental activities across multiple projects or trials.
- Work closely with technicians, interns, seasonal workers, breeders, pathologists, and general Trait Assessment colleagues.
- Ensure activities are carried out in line with biosafety, HSE, quality, and stewardship requirements.
- Support the maintenance and improvement of Trait Assessment equipment, facilities, and operational processes.

Innovation and scientific networking:

- Identify opportunities to improve disease resistance screening methods and pathogen detection approaches.
- Stay connected to external scientific developments, academic research, and emerging technologies in plant pathology.
- Share expertise across teams and contribute to a collaborative, learning-oriented environment.

📌 Trait Assessment Scientist (El Ejido)
🏢 Syngenta Seeds
📍 El Ejido