Tomato Intern for Innovative Projects
Bayer
Summary
In this internship within the Precision Genomics–adjacent tomato harvesting initiative at Bayer Crop Science, you will advance innovations in tomato harvesting by identifying and solving steps to improve marketable yield for mechanically harvested tomato varieties, leveraging advanced technologies and cross-functional collaboration to implement solutions across tomato product pipelines.
Job description
Your Tasks and Responsibilities
Bayer Crop Science has an opportunity for an exceptional Ph.D. candidate to join a research team on site in Woodland, California, for a 3-month internship. The successful candidate will collaborate with scientists, phenotyping specialists, and tomato breeders to support the continued development of a machine-harvesting process for tomatoes and will spend significant time working in a field environment.
- Assist in the development and testing of tomato harvester designs
- Conduct field trials to evaluate the harvester's efficiency and effectiveness in real-world conditions
- Conduct field experiments to develop and test various inbred lines aimed at improving crop resilience and quality
- Collect and analyze data on plant performance and overall harvesting effectiveness
- Engage in field trials to assess the quality of different tomato varieties, contributing to post-harvest innovation
- Design data collection protocols and execute field experiments with meticulous attention to detail
- Communicate results and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Adhere to all safety guidelines and complete required training sessions
Who You Are
Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:
Required Qualifications
- Currently a PhD candidate (successfully passed comprehensive/qualifying exam) in one of the following (or similar) areas: Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science
- Experience with field trialing, protocol development, independent project management, and mechanization/automation
- Well-versed in experimental design, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams
Requirements
- Currently a PhD candidate (successfully passed comprehensive/qualifying exam) in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Plant Genetics, or Plant Science
- Experience with field trialing, protocol development, independent project management, and mechanization/automation
- Well-versed in experimental design, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams
Benefits
- Health care
- Vision
- Dental
- Retirement
- PTO
- Sick leave
Company overview
Bayer AG is a global life science company with core competencies in healthcare and agriculture, operating as one of the world's leading pharmaceutical corporations. Founded in 1863 and headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, Bayer operates through three primary divisions: Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, and Crop Science. The company's pharmaceutical segment focuses on prescription products for cardiology, women's healthcare, oncology, hematology, and ophthalmology, with blockbuster drugs including Xarelto, Eylea, and Nubeqa. Bayer's Consumer Health division markets well-known over-the-counter brands such as Aspirin, Aleve, Claritin, and Bepanthen. The Crop Science division, strengthened by the acquisition of Monsanto, provides seeds, crop protection products, and digital farming solutions. With approximately 92,815 employees worldwide and operations in 80 countries, Bayer is committed to its mission of "Health for all, Hunger for none," driving innovation in medical treatments, agricultural productivity, and sustainable development. The company maintains a strong research and development pipeline, investing heavily in areas like precision medicine, artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, and sustainable agricultural technologies.