AI Scientist

Company Description

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs. 

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.  

Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States. 

Job Description

At Syngenta, we believe every employee has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. To support that challenge, Syngenta's Bioinformatics Team is seeking an AI Scientist, located in Durham, North Carolina. This role will support senior scientists to train, modify, and apply deep learning models and will join cross-functional research teams to deliver the next generation of predictive and prescriptive technologies to support the product pipeline.

The AI Scientist will become an active member of the Bioinformatics Group and drive innovation in a rapidly evolving scientific discipline.

Accountabilities:

• Synthesize results and clearly communicate progress and challenges to project team members.
• Data preparation for internal ML/DL projects, including data QC, basic statistical analysis, preprocessing, etc.
• Identification of public data sources for DL based on identified use cases.
• Exploration and internal implementation of new model architectures available in the public domain.
• Modification of existing DL model architectures to support new use cases.
• Development of workflows that utilize DL models to support cross-functional project teams.
• Evaluation of model performance with new data.
• Presentation of results to relevant parties.

Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE -- Candidates must be already located in the United States and not require visa sponsorship now or in the future (Includes OPT).

Required:

• PhD or MS (4 years) with experience in computer science, biostatistics, bioinformatics or related area.
• Proficiency in the use of UNIX/Linux and its command-line environment.
• Experience coding in Python.
• Experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow/Keras, or JAX.
• Experience with deep learning model creation, fine-tuning, hyperparameter optimization, and model deployment.
• Knowledge/experiences in using LLMs (transformers, Mamba, etc.).
• Proficiency in grid computing (e.g. Univa, Slurm, etc.).
• Familiarity working with version control systems (e.g. Git, CVS, SVN, etc.).
• Experience with Jupyter notebooks and conda environments.

Desired:

• Experience with MLOps tools (e.g. MLflow).
• Experience with cloud computing with AWS.
• Biology knowledge.
• Experience building/fine-tuning LLMs (transformers, Mamba, Hyena, etc.).
• Experience in programming with GitHub Copilot, AWS Q, or similar AI agents to enable rapid development.

Additional Information

What We Offer:

• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.
• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day.
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.

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.

WL: 4B

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