Description
Lead and execute the scientific, technical, and strategic direction of Plant Health research-particularly for wheat diseases-by generating high quality phenotyping data, advancing Precision Breeding innovations, and integrating disease risk insights into breeding and product development decisions.
The role strengthens global Crop Science capabilities by driving cross-regional collaboration, harmonizing best practices, and building networks with internal and external experts.
Through leadership in high throughput phenotyping, analytics, genomics, and academic partnerships, the position ensures robust germplasm improvement, accelerates trait discovery, informs product deployment strategies, and enhances Bayer’s scientific leadership in plant pathology.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design, develop and execute plant health trials focused on germplasm improvement and characterization of key disease traits in field and controlled environment conditions;
- Lead key projects implementing Precision Breeding technical innovations within North America and with global partners, in close collaboration with breeding and commercial teams to optimize germplasm improvement and characterization;
- Prepare, analyze, and present plant health data to breeding and commercial teams to support data-driven decisions for product advancement and deployment;
- Apply disease risk methodologies to inform breeding strategies and clearly communicate implications for product deployment to commercial stakeholders;
- Build and manage collaborations with universities and other external experts on pipeline screening, including oversight of material transfer agreements and related compliance;
- Work across crops on high-throughput, analytical and genomic plant health projects to improve strategies for pipeline screening and discovery initiatives;
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary R&D and Crop Science teams to integrate plant health findings into broader agricultural research and product development strategies;
- Communicate research outcomes through publications, presentations, and internal reports to contribute to scientific knowledge and guide strategic decision making;
- Demonstrate creativity in problem solving by applying advanced analytics and technologies to address complex plant health challenges;
- Support and role-model Bayer’s standards for health, safety, compliance, and responsible business conduct.