Postdoctoral fellow – Crop Protection Research Chemistry (m/f/d)

About the job

Company Description

Syngenta Group, a global leader in agricultural technology and innovation, employs 60,000 people across more than 100 countries to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for farmers, society, and our planet. Our diverse portfolio encompasses seeds, crop protection, nutrition products, agronomic solutions, and digital services, all designed to help farmers produce healthy food, feed, fiber, and fuel while conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Our mission is to address critical challenges such as climate change and food security through sustainable practices and cutting-edge solutions, while safeguarding the planet's resources. 

Syngenta Crop Protection, the largest Syngenta Group unit, leads in sustainable farming solutions, offering innovative products to keep crops healthy while minimizing environmental impact, from planting to harvest. 

Syngenta Biologicals: www.syngentabiologicals.com/en/

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Magazine and it has been awarded with the "Friendly Work Space" label to all its Swiss sites. 

Job Description

Natural products (NPs) are molecular “special equipment” that impart survival benefits on their producers in nature. Their evolved ability to modulate biological processes makes these privileged compounds excellent starting points for innovative agrochemicals, and they are increasingly prevalent in the modern crop protection market. Examples include recently approved semi-synthetic active ingredients like fenpicoxamid and afidopyropen, as well as synthetic mimics of strigolactone phytohormones with potential for sustainable agricultural applications. As a Postdoctoral Fellow in Research Chemistry at the interface with our Natural Product and Biomolecular Chemistry Unit (NPBC), you will join a multidisciplinary team to investigate NPs exhibiting biocontrol or biostimulant activities with new modes of action relevant to crop protection. You will contribute to identifying high-interest starting points for agrochemical crop protection research. Your responsibilities will include designing, developing, and executing state-of-the-art synthetic routes to obtain samples of natural products and/or their structural analogs for early biological evaluation. 

Role purpose: 

Conducting natural products research and synthesis in discovery within the Natural Product and Biomolecular Chemistry Unit, specifically targeting secondary metabolites with biocontrol and biostimulant properties. This role involves investigating through total synthesis and/or semi-synthetic approaches, privileged metabolites with potential agricultural applications, contributing to the expanding modern crop protection market.

Accountabilities: 

• Lead the synthesis, and optimization of natural products (NPs) with specific modes of action, including biosynthetic approaches and structural analog development.
• Provide scientific leadership, technical guidance, and continuous improvement initiatives in NP operations, ensuring best practices in experimental design, execution, and data analysis. 
• Collaborate across Chemistry, Biologicals, and other relevant functions to ensure seamless end-to-end delivery of the CPR portfolio where NPs are involved. 
• Analyze complex datasets, apply cross-functional knowledge, and leverage digital tools to generate insights and guide decision-making. 
• Maintain an external networks with academic institutions, industrial partners, and technology providers to enhance NP capabilities and deliver on the Biologicals strategy. 
• Contribute to intellectual property (IP) strategy by identifying protectable innovations and understanding relevant IP landscapes. 
• Contribute to biocontrol or biostimulant projects centered on NPs, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and delivery against critical success factors. 
• Foster a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment that accelerates compound development and enhances project outcomes.

Qualifications

• A PhD in chemistry preferably with a strong focus on total synthesis of natural products.
• Passionate about life science technologies, with a strong ability to understand methodologies beyond synthetic chemistry.
• Ability to critically interpret results and build new experimental hypotheses.
• Possesses a curious, scientifically creative, and self-starting mindset, embracing calculated risk-taking.
• Excellent analytical, communication and organizational skills. 
• Ability to collaborate and take initiatives in multidisciplinary teams and with external collaborators. 
• Good knowledge of English language (written and spoken).

Additional Information

We offer a variety of financial and non-financial benefits including:

• We offer a position which contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment 
• The opportunity to make a difference to process safety, both within Syngenta’s global operations, and in shaping safety legislation and culture worldwide 
• A superb working environment with an open culture and diverse workforce where new ideas are always welcome 
• The opportunity to work with and learn from highly qualified and experienced employees and gain scientific and technical excellence 
• Learning culture (Together we Grow) and wide range of training options 
• You will profit from a competitive pension fund plan, flexible working, attractive bonus system, onsite doctor, fitness room, canteen, and other benefits such as Family friendly initiatives, Child and Family allowance 

Please send your complete application with CV, diploma and work certificates (if applicable) in English. 

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.