Senior Research Scientist – Analytical science

Syngenta Group is one of the world’s leading sustainable agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. Our 53,000 people across more than 100 countries strive every day to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for the benefit of farmers, society and our planet – making us the world’s most local agricultural technology and innovation partner.

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.

Syngenta’s Crop Protection Bioscience function is looking for an Analytical scientist to provide technical specialist input into R&D goals and make a tangible contribution towards Syngenta purpose of enabling growers to provide healthy, high-quality food safely and sustainably. You will engage with a community of highly skilled scientists to solve novel challenges and collaborate to provide innovations to Syngenta’s research portfolio. You will use your experience in small molecule mass spectrometry and/or chromatography to develop novel methods and harness the power of our departmental analytical suite (LC-MS, MS and Rapidfire-MS) in contributing towards the generation of data that will impact R&D projects and the delivery of new products to the market

Accountabilities

• The responsible person for analytical method development on departmental LC-MS equipment; involving effective communication with LCMS users, the reporting and databasing of methods/ SOPs, and maintenance or improvement of methods.
• Collaborate with fellow Bioscientists to understand needs and align the analytical method development approach, ensuring the most efficient and effective use of our instrumentation, and the generation of impactful data.
• Be available and approachable: training users on hardware and software, help problem solve technical challenges, assist with diagnosis of instrument. In each case providing solutions or taking responsibility to escalate issues to ensure they are resolved.
• Management of certain LC-MS instruments: User access, Instrument cleaning, calibration, and performance testing.
• Sometimes assist users with the running of samples to ensure efficient use of the Bioscience analytical suite, or support users in the processing and interpretation of LC-MS data.

• Proactively identify opportunities to help improve operational flexibility, efficiency, overall effectiveness, or other related lab innovations.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Key knowledge

• MSc or PhD in Chemistry, Analytical chemistry, or related fields.
• Mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, analytical method development.

Key experience

• Practical use Triple-quadrupole Mass spectrometers and liquid chromatography systems (LC, LC-MS, Rapidfire).
• Significant experience of analytical method development for either Mass spectrometry and/or Liquid chromatography in an operational setting.
• Experience with troubleshooting, diagnosing and fixing issues related to LC-MS instrumentation and technical measurement challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to relay scientific information (discussion, reports & presentations) in a manner appropriate to the customer/audience.
• IT skills: including experience in using scientific literature search tools and information databases
• Beneficial experience: Biochemistry knowledge or exposure to biochemical assay development; Prior experience with management of key scientific lab assets; advanced IT skills (coding, data science etc).
• Beneficial experience: Specific experience with Agilent Rapidfire, Waters or Sciex triple-quadrupole, or Thermo Orbitrap instruments and the associate software interfaces.

Key technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Excellent communication skills and an approachable nature.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and summarize data.
• Accurate data recording and attention to details.
• Enjoys problem solving and takes initiative in finding solutions.
• Openness and honesty.
• Flexibility to work as part of a team.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Research and develop new and innovative methods.
• Identify problems and implement solutions.
• Ability to work on multiple, complex projects, providing robust and accurate data to agreed deadlines.

In return for your skills and knowledge Syngenta will offer:

• Competitive benefits package including opportunities for flexible working.
• Up to 31.5 days annual holiday.
• Interaction with external researchers and opportunities to represent Syngenta in research networks, collaborations and conferences.
• Good onsite facilities including a staff restaurant, a gym and fitness classes.
• Campus environment based at Jealott’s Hill located in the Berkshire countryside between Bracknell and Maidenhead.
• Great opportunities for personal and career development.
• A modern, stimulating and dynamic working environment which promotes diversity and inclusion, scientific excellence and collaboration.
• A job and responsibilities with purpose at state-of-the-art facilities within a world class R&D campus site.
• Hybrid working, allowing some working from home. Part-time and/or flexible working also available.

We embrace and encourage diversity, and this is what drives our innovation and lets us outperform the market. https://www.syngenta.com/careers/working-syngenta/diversity-and-inclusion

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