What are the responsibilities and job description for the Trait Scientist position at Corteva Agriscience?
At Corteva Agriscience, you will help us grow what’s next. No matter your role, you will be part of a team that is building the future of agriculture – leading breakthroughs in the innovation and application of science and technology that will better the lives of people all over the world and fuel the progress of humankind.
Corteva Agriscience is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our Biotech Trait Characterization and Development team as a Trait Scientist. This highly motivated individual will be a member of the Seed Planning and Logistics team supporting research nursery seed production for insect, herbicide, disease, and other traits across multiple crops. The Trait Scientist will be expected to provide plant genetic and seed production guidance to the team while supporting year-round concurrent research nursery seed productions.
Purpose: To apply plant genetics expertise in the planning, design, execution, and management of research seed production resources for corn, soybean, and cotton. Research seed production activities occur at multiple sites including IA, GA, CA, HI, and Puerto Rico. The Trait Scientist will serve as a scientific resource for complex trait loci architecture, multi-locus trait stacking, zygosity management, and Mendelian segregation analysis. The Trait Scientist will provide data-driven summaries and strategic recommendations to cross functional teams that advance transgenic or gene-edited concepts from early characterization through regulatory and commercial readiness.
Interacts with: Trait characterization project scientists, regulatory scientists, seed planning and logistics team members, genome center of excellence personnel, research center staff, seed product development personnel, trait discovery and optimization scientists, Biotechnology portfolio and program strategy leaders, Innovation Management, cross-functional discovery assessment teams, and product stewardship personnel
Key Responsibilities – What You’ll Do
Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.
Corteva Agriscience is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our Biotech Trait Characterization and Development team as a Trait Scientist. This highly motivated individual will be a member of the Seed Planning and Logistics team supporting research nursery seed production for insect, herbicide, disease, and other traits across multiple crops. The Trait Scientist will be expected to provide plant genetic and seed production guidance to the team while supporting year-round concurrent research nursery seed productions.
Purpose: To apply plant genetics expertise in the planning, design, execution, and management of research seed production resources for corn, soybean, and cotton. Research seed production activities occur at multiple sites including IA, GA, CA, HI, and Puerto Rico. The Trait Scientist will serve as a scientific resource for complex trait loci architecture, multi-locus trait stacking, zygosity management, and Mendelian segregation analysis. The Trait Scientist will provide data-driven summaries and strategic recommendations to cross functional teams that advance transgenic or gene-edited concepts from early characterization through regulatory and commercial readiness.
Interacts with: Trait characterization project scientists, regulatory scientists, seed planning and logistics team members, genome center of excellence personnel, research center staff, seed product development personnel, trait discovery and optimization scientists, Biotechnology portfolio and program strategy leaders, Innovation Management, cross-functional discovery assessment teams, and product stewardship personnel
Key Responsibilities – What You’ll Do
- Develop short and long-term research nursery seed production plans and logistics across multiple trait projects, integrating genetic population requirements, trait segregation expectations, and site-specific capacity constraints. Compile and communicate resource projections across projects to align capacity planning with seed product development timelines and track actual versus projected resource utilization. Apply quantitative genetic principles to support experimental design, including calculation of minimum population sizes required to detect trait segregation at expected Mendelian ratios (e.g., 1:1, 1:2:1) with defined statistical confidence. Provide technical troubleshooting to the seed planning team for anomalous outcomes including discordant qPCR results, deviations from expected segregation frequencies, and unexpected field phenotypes. Investigation may include tracing seed lot provenance, reviewing historical genotyping and phenotyping reports, and identifying root causes such as seed mixture, hemizygosity, or sampling bias.
- Collect, analyze, manage, and interpret data generated during multi-locus trait stacking programs by applying statistical and bioinformatic approaches to assess trait linkage, zygosity, and stack integrity, reporting results to cross-functional data assessment teams to inform advancement decisions.
- Maintain and continuously refine tracking systems for regulated trait integration (TI) conversions and trait stacks across corn, soybean, and cotton, translating genetic milestones into nursery entry point predictions, first-year testing schedules, and seed production resource requirements. Serve as a trait liaison to the TI team and as a member of the Soy BT TI coordination team.
- Partner with regulatory scientists to forecast, design, and manage research seed production experiments supporting soybean regulatory science, applying knowledge of transgene inheritance, zygosity, and seed purity standards to deliver material that meets submission timelines and genetic purity requirements.
- Provide QPCR, marker, and other analytical workload estimates to the Genome Center of Excellence team to support capacity planning.
- Communicate plant sampling estimates to research seed production centers to facilitate adequate resource and workload planning.
- Apply phenotypic observations and genotyping data from nursery seed productions to recommend soybean conversion and stack subline selections to trait scientists.
- Develop and deploy, in collaboration with the trait testing team, a soy conversion naming convention after subline selections to simplify identification of new traits in soy germplasm.
- Partner with portfolio leads and program managers to provide scientific expertise on seed production timelines, population genetics requirements, and resources needed when scoping and designing new trait projects.
- Compile and deliver an annual seed purity report to research seed production centers, integrating seed characterization data from regulatory science and efficacy teams to inform purity assessments and recommendations.
- Visit research nursery locations to make observations and interact with research center staff, providing nursery summaries and reports to project scientists and data assessment teams.
- Actively pursue ongoing scientific development, maintaining current knowledge of advances and emerging research relevant to the role.
- Live Corteva’s Core values – Live Safely, Be Upstanding, Build Together, Be Curious, Stand Tall, Enrich Lives.
- Actively enhance cross functional productivity, communication, and site-specific standard operating protocols.
- All applicants must have advanced training and experience in plant sciences research. A Ph.D. degree in Genetics, Plant Breeding, or related fields or an M.S. with 10 yrs. experience.
- Knowledge and experience in research nursery seed production is a must.
- Demonstrated knowledge and field research experience working with regulated transgenic material or demonstrated agility to learn.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to work well with diverse groups of people
- Strong attention to detail and managing complexity in a deadline driven environment.
- Excellent computer, data management, statistical analysis, and data presentation skills are essential.
- Must be committed to a strong safety and environmental stewardship culture.
- Demonstrated ability to innovate and strive for continuous improvement.
- Valid driver’s license
- Travel required (domestic and international)
- Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills
- Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place
- Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment
- Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays
- Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father
- Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program
- Learn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva Benefits
- Check out life at Corteva! www.linkedin.com/company/corteva/life
Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.