DuPont Pioneer is seeking a Senior Research Manager to spearhead the strategic development and direction of new bioassays that effectively translate model system phenotypes into crop systems and deliver predictive value for crop performance under stress in field environments.

The individual will take accountability for managing the current staff and on-going phenotyping and bioassay development efforts in the Trait Phenotyping group. The trait phenotyping efforts include lab, growth chamber, greenhouse and some field efforts to characterize and develop early gene leads. The individual will be expected to take a cross-functional and integrated approach and work effectively with other groups in Pioneer developing phenotypic approaches to characterize traits in target crops. Specifically, the position will play a key role coordinating the Ag Traits bioassay and phenotyping efforts with Pioneer’s high throughput FASTCorn facility, with field researchers managing Pioneer’s managed environment screening, with an analytic group responsible for molecular phenotyping and metabolite profiling, and with colleagues discovering Agronomic Traits gene leads. The individual will work with other leaders in the Agronomic Traits department to align and prioritize research efforts. The individual will have accountability for the management and continued development of a diverse research group ensuring an industry leading effort.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Drives the research strategy for the development and implementation of bioassay and phenotyping efforts within Ag Traits to enable the discovery, characterization and development of drought and nitrogen use efficiency traits using lab, greenhouse, growth chamber, and field environments. Interfaces with key technology providers in the lab and field to fully leverage and integrate new technologies such as molecular phenotyping and metabolic profiling into our phenotyping and bioassay efforts.
• Interfaces with our Controlled Environments and FASTCorn groups to effectively coordinate the utilization of greenhouse space to support bioassay efforts in the Trait Phenotyping group. Interfaces with gene discovery and agronomic traits researchers to ensure that appropriate bioassays are available to characterize the performance of candidate genes in the target crop.
• Interfaces with field based researchers to ensure that bioassays are relevant to field based assays and field performance. Drives rigorous experimental design and data analysis. Manages and develops the research group.
• Effectively plans and manages the annual budget for the Trait Phenotyping group.
• Drives the research strategy for the development of new greenhouse assays that can translate model system phenotypes into crop systems and deliver predictive value for crop performance under stress in field environments.
• Ensures robust experimental design for our greenhouse experiments with integration of key technology platforms that enable the collection of a diverse array of phenomics and analytical data types. Strategies for experiment design, data collection and data analysis.
• Strategies to build links between predictive trait parameters from our early phase model system biological screens to crop performance in the field.

Qualifications:

• PhD in biological sciences, preferably specializing in plant physiology, molecular biology, plant metabolism, phenomics or a related discipline.
• At least 4 to 6 years experience in research management in the agricultural biotechnology industry and preferably experience with both drought tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency studies.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and developing a diverse research group.
• Broad scientific knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, plant physiology, stress biology, phenomics, metabolomics, and related sciences.
• Demonstrated strength in experimental design, statistical analysis and analysis of complex data sets that integrate multiple data types.
• Ability to interact and execute in a cross-functional research environment.
• Ability to develop, communicate and implement a research strategy.

Apply online at www.pioneer.com/careers. 
Submit to job 18909BR.

EOE