Scientist - Statistical Genetics & Computational Breeding

Job Description:

Provides major statistical and analytical support and thought leadership to the Cocoa Genetics and Breeding Program. Ensures proper design of experiments to enable statistically sound results. Performs a wide variety of data analyses and collaborates on proper curation of the data in the internal database. Responsible for implementation of quantitative trait improvement through QTL and association studies and genomic selection approaches, helping move the Mars cocoa breeding program into an era of computationally enabled breeding & selection.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Plant Breeding, Plant Biology, Statistics, or a related field with strong quantitative skills.
• 3+ years of direct experience in quantitative genetics and breeding research in an academic or industrial setting
• Ability to communicate scientific topics clearly and appropriately to experts and non-experts alike
• Experience in and energy for writing technical scientific proposals, scientific publications, and/or scientific patent applications, and maintaining consistent scientific records

• Strong knowledge in the application of statistical analytical methods in genetic data analysis and experimental design, including fluency in relevant and modern analytics platforms (eg., R, JMP, Python).

• Direct experience with implementing or developing genomic selection or genomic prediction in a plant breeding program
• Ability to function effectively in a multidisciplinary, globally distributed team

Preferred Qualifications

• Postdoctoral experience
• Experience with innovating solutions for non-model, tree, and/or specialty crops
• Familiarity and/or experience with applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in plant breeding
• Prior experience in external collaborative research

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Delivers analytical results driving the development of superior cacao hybrids and clones through phenotypic selection, marker-assisted selection, and genomic selection approaches:
  • Chiefly accountable for computational and data science research related to quantitative trait inheritance, QTL discovery & genomic selection in the Cocoa Genetics and Breeding team.
  • Develops and delivers the genomic selection strategy for cocoa improvement in the Mars Genetics & Breeding program through appropriate combinations of internal platform development and external collaboration.
• Develops and deploys tools for statistical analysis of field and laboratory experiments directed by the team's researchers. Provides day-to-day support on experimental design and statistical analysis to the Breeding & Genetics team.
• Provides thought leadership and promotes best practices in statistics and computational breeding for the Mars Cocoa Plant Science researchers. Maintains a strong awareness of emerging trends in the quantitative, statistical, and computational genetics field and delivers sound recommendations about revisions to internal best practices that should be adopted.
• Networks closely with the database and informatics lead on genomic data analysis and maintaining curation of the Mars plant science databases.
• Works with Associates across a globally distributed field station network to ensure the proper design of field experiments, enabling statistically sound conclusions.
• Partners across teams to support the broader cross-functional data analysis and modelling needs in the Mars Cocoa Enterprise
• Collaborates effectively with external partners who support key computational and statistical goals and innovations in the Mars cocoa breeding pipeline.
• Is comfortable in tailoring messages and communications appropriately to experts and non-experts alike, and correctly frames business opportunities motivated by quantitative and computational genetics to Mars leadership and non-technical internal and external audiences.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we're striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#LI-Hybrid

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Pay Range:

$84.269,00 - $126.403,00

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.