Beck’s is the third largest seed brand in the United States, providing high-yielding corn, soybeans, wheat and elite alfalfa to farmers across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. All Beck’s seed products are protected by a proprietary seed treatment, Escalate®, with the added protection of Nemasect™ on all corn and soybeans. Our philosophy is to provide farmers with the most choices in traits and technologies that will perform best on their farm. We’re dedicated to using what we know to always do what’s right for farmers, which is why we continue to back a quality line of products with a quality way of treating customers, all to ensure they receive the best in seed quality, field performance and service.

Purpose and Scope

Do you have a positive attitude and a passion for farmers to succeed? Do you love to work independently but also thrives on success? If so, then this is the job for you.  

As a Ph.D corn breeder at Beck's, you’ll be challenged daily in your abilities to problem solve and utilize your deductive reasoning skills to help create new, high-yielding products for our industry-leading lineup. You will assist in trait conversion, evaluate hybrid combinations, and utilize dihaploid technology and molecular breeding to create improved lines of hybrid seed corn. 

But it doesn’t end there. You’ll also be responsible for promoting the “Beck’s Experience” while maintaining the integrity of our brand, our family, and everything we stand for. 

Responsibilities

• Interact cooperatively with current corn breeders and research staff to create an efficient and successful corn breeding and testing program.
• Create and manage a summer nursery developing adapted elite inbreds.
• Evaluate hybrid combinations for agronomic characteristics and performance.
• Analyze data from yield trial plots.
• Interact cooperatively with other personnel from external firms in which Beck’s has a relationship.
• Create winter nurseries and evaluate material at off-season sites.
• Assist in trait conversion program in greenhouse conducting pollinations, assist in setup of greenhouse cycles and help to ensure the success of that program.
• Utilize dihaploid technology to create elite inbred material for Beck’s retail program.
• Utilize molecular breeding to facilitate population improvement and line/hybrid development.
• Manage laboratory functions such as shelling, packaging, and organization of packets in planting order.
• Maintain a working knowledge of modern statistical methodology and data analytical software packages.
• Manage planting and harvesting of nurseries as well as yield trails.
• Remain current with technological developments related to breeding and introduce innovation into the breeding program.
• Assist in field compliance duties relating to regulated transgenic crops.
• Perform other related duties as may be required by the Breeding Manager 

Job Requirements

1. Education and training:

• Ph.D. in plant breeding, or
• M.S. in plant breeding with five (5) years of experience in corn breeding.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and insurable driving record as determined by Beck’s automobile insurance policy.

2. Technical knowledge:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Possess positive attitude.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, work as a team member, and proceed with objectives without supervision.
• Possess knowledge of U.S. dent-corn germplasm.
• Excellent computer and current software skills.

3. Physical demands:

• Must be able to lift up to 70 pounds unassisted.

Click HERE to learn more and to apply online.

EOE