Principal Scientist - Computational Chemistry

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, fibre, 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. 

Job Description

We are looking for a highly motivated computational chemist to join the Computational Chemistry group at our R&D site in Jealott’s Hill, UK. With strong expertise in computational structure-based chemical design and protein modelling, you will drive innovation in our molecular design processes. As part of your professional development, you will have the opportunity to explore and integrate AI/ML methodologies with traditional computational chemistry approaches to accelerate and improve molecular design. Strong teamwork, excellence in computational design, and the ability to work effectively as part of multidisciplinary project teams are essential. 

Accountabilities:

• Design and optimize molecules for synthesis, guided by computational modelling of protein-ligand interactions, in partnership with chemists, biologists, and other scientific experts 

• Develop and implement computational workflows to support molecular design 

• Create structure-property relationships to guide design decisions 

• Explore emerging computational methods  

• Provide systematic feedback to drive continuous improvement of computational chemistry infrastructures, workflows and algorithm implementation 

Qualifications

Required knowledge and experience:

• PhD in computational chemistry or related field
• PhD or postdoctoral position focussed on protein modelling
• Demonstrated experience in structure-based design
• Demonstrated experience with molecular dynamics simulation
• Proficiency with standard computational chemistry/cheminformatics packages 
• Demonstrated experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) and distributed computing environments 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams

Additional Expertise:

• Working knowledge of Python programming
• Basic understanding of statistics and data analysis
• Machine learning concepts and their applications in chemistry

Additional Information

What we offer:

• We provide access to state-of-the-art research facilities and technologies, enabling you to apply and expand your expertise in computational design and active ingredient optimization.
• We cultivate a dynamic and intellectually stimulating working environment with an open culture and diverse workforce, where new ideas are always welcome. We embrace flexible work arrangements and foster work-life balance.
• We invest in your professional growth and development through a multidisciplinary training program tailored to foster a rewarding career in crop protection. Specifically, we offer comprehensive training and development opportunities to expand your expertise in AI/ML applications for computational chemistry, statistics and software development.