Vegetable Breeding Assistant Intern

Company Description

We invite you to help us shape the future of agriculture. At Syngenta, we believe every employee has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. To support that challenge, we are currently seeking a Vegetable Breeding Assistant Intern, located in Rocky Ford, Colorado. This hands-on position provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in plant breeding, seed production, and the overall operations of a seed company. The intern will work directly with our breeders to assist in a wide range of tasks, from experimental design to seed harvesting and cataloguing, and will gain valuable insight into the industry while contributing to the development of innovative vegetable varieties.

• Competitive wages (hourly salary range of $21-$40 per hour) 
• Ongoing career development resources    
• The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems  
• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and offers flexible work options to meet both your work and personal needs 

 Estimated Duration: May 2025 through August/September 2025

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Experimental Design & Data Collection: Assist with designing breeding trials, conducting field research, and collecting data on plant performance.
• Pollinations & Crosses: Support the breeding team with pollinations, assisting in controlled pollination processes.
• Harvesting & Seed Cataloguing: Help with harvesting crops and accurately cataloguing seeds for future research and sales.
• Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with various departments such as seed production, sales, packing, and the office team to ensure smooth operations and alignment with breeding goals.
• Market Overview & Breeding Goals: Gain an understanding of market trends and customer needs to help shape breeding objectives and contribute to product development.

Qualifications

• Current Student studying plant breeding, agriculture, or a related field.
• Must be a current student continuing education upon completion of internship term (Cannot graduate before December 2025)
• Must be able and willing to relocate at own expense to Rocky Ford, CO for the duration of the internship from May 2025 through August 2025
•  Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
•  Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
•  Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
•  Prior experience in agriculture or horticulture is a plus but not required.
•  Ability to handle physical tasks, such as working in fields and greenhouses.

What We Offer:

• Practical, hands-on experience in vegetable breeding and seed production.
• Mentorship from experienced breeders and professionals in the seed industry.
• An opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects in a growing, innovative company.
• A collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Additional Information

#LI-KR2

#LI-Onsite

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, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)  

(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmla.htm) 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) 

(http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/firststep/poster_direct.htm) 

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) 

(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppa.htm)