BACKGROUND

At Syngenta Seeds Inc. we are seeking highly creative and self-motivated individuals who have effective multi-disciplinary team interactions skills, a technical aptitude, as well as strong logical, problem solving, and decision-making skills. Proficiency in performing multiple projects with dynamic timelines is also required.


Department: Native Traits – Product Development
Position: Statistical Geneticist
Requisition Number: SNT05-010

RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for the developing and implementing statistical methods for linkage and association analysis to detect and characterize the genetic factors underlying complex traits (eg. yield, stress tolerance, etc.). The scientist will be responsible to apply advanced statistical methods, computer science skills and bioinformatics principles to analyze genotypic and phenotypic data from a wide variety of genetics studies, including large-scale whole genome association, transmission disequilibrium, linkage studies and population genetic studies. The successful candidate will use this experience to develop analysis workflows and help in the automation of these workflows. The candidate will also be responsible for developing statistical methodology to leverage the use of existing breeding populations for developing marker: trait associations. In order to accurately identify the required novel analytical approaches, this individual will be trained on most commercially available software packages in the field of statistical genetics and will work closely with the computational biology group to fully understand the different algorithm details, advantages and limitations.

REQUIREMENTS

•Ph.D. in Statistical Genetics / Mathematics / Bioinformatics / Computer Science
•Experience in analysis of genetic and phenotypic data, including whole-genome mapping studies by association and linkage, haplotype analysis, population genetics, and admixture analysis, etc.
•Computer skills: High degree of proficiency with: OS: Linux / Unix, Windows ; Programming: Perl, C++
•Statistical software: R / S-Plus / SAS / JMP / ASREML
•Previous experience with mixed-model and/or Bayesian methods for genetic evaluation.
•Ability to work as part of a high performance multi-disciplinary team.
•Ability to handle several projects simultaneously.
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills
•Strong initiative and demonstrated ability to take ownership of and provide solutions to challenging problems


LOCALE: Clinton, IL / Slater, IA / Stanton, MN / Raleigh, NC



HOW TO APPLY:
If you are interested in any of the above positions, please submit your electronic resume to jobs.seedsnafta[at]syngenta.com