Trainee Automation & Phenotyping

Into action

Automation is key to enable high-throughput phenotyping and feeding the increasing population. At Syngenta, we test and implement leading edge technologies to achieve this ambition. In this role as an intern, you support the automation and high-throughput phenotyping initiatives in Tomato Vision in De Lier/Maasland, which is at the technology forefront of greenhouses. Here we are testing robots and drones, to support the crop management like harvesting, but also high-throughput phenotyping and data collection. You will work in an interdisciplinary, international team with members from breeding, automation & engineering, phenotyping/plant physiology and technology facility management, to help us understand and implement these technologies in the greenhouse together with the vendors, internally, support operating the technologies and assess them. Combination with an academic thesis possible.

Main tasks:

• Local representative of the project team at Tomato Vision (De Lier)
• Interaction-point with the vendors locally and remote
• Support the implementation and operation of the harvesting robot, goal is in routine use 2024
• Optimize the phenotyping & ground truth concept, identify parameters/traits for comparison
• Integrate multiple data sources, perform data analysis, standard KPI analysis, build the E2E data pipeline and use those insights for next data collection and/or adaptations to drones and robot
• Develop the required adaptions together with the vendors and validate the upgraded solutions
• Define a routine concept for the use of the robot for breeding purposes and advancement decisions
• Define an E2E operation concept of the robot
• Plan, oversee and perform (ground truth) data collection together with the local data collection team
• Assess and compare the used technologies to define the future of greenhouse automated phenotyping and crop management for Syngenta for the next decade
• Support the interdisciplinary project team.

Your profile

To succeed in this position, you are studying in the field of biosystems engineering, breeding (related subjects), agronomy, robotics or data science (Bachelor or Master). You have knowledge/passion in the field of plant breeding, you are interested in new technologies like drones/robots and you are able to handle integration and analysis of huge data sets. preferably you are living in The Netherlands. You have excellent communication skills (incl. English), you are creative, you work independently, you think ahead and have passion to explore something new.

Key facts

Starting date: April/May 2024

Duration: ~ till end of 2024 Location: Tomato Vision, De Lier Language: English, Dutch (optional)

Company Description

Syngenta is a leading developer and producer of seeds. We bring farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions. Each of our 28,000 employees in more than 90 countries work together to solve one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: growing more food with fewer resources. A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace environment are enablers of our ambition to be the most collaborative and trusted team in agriculture.