Trait Breeder Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Description:

Plant Sciences Genetics (PSG) is seeking a motivated and technically skilled breeder to support advanced breeding initiatives in blackberry and strawberry. This role combines leadership of PSG's gene-edited (GE) blackberry breeding project with responsibility for strawberry disease-resistance pre-breeding efforts. Approximately one-third of the role will focus on blackberry trait breeding using GE germplasm developed in collaboration with PSG's technology partner. The remaining two-thirds will focus on developing strawberry breeding lines with stacked disease resistance traits using traditional, marker-assisted, and genomics-enabled breeding approaches. This position is designed for an early- to mid-career breeder seeking hands-on experience across the breeding pipeline, including trait integration, population development, phenotyping, marker implementation, and field evaluation. The successful candidate will work across field, greenhouse, nursery, lab, and office environments while collaborating closely with breeding, pathology, propagation, bioinformatics, and molecular genetics teams.

Key Responsibilities: Blackberry GE Trait Breeding (~1/3 Time):

- Lead coordination and execution of PSG's gene-edited blackberry breeding project.

- Manage traited breeding populations across greenhouse, nursery and field environments, ensuring accurate tracking and data integrity.

-Coordinate trial execution, material movement, and evaluation timelines with PSG's technology partner.

-Collaborate with tech partner in utilizing molecular markers linked to GE traits.

-Collect, organize, and summarize phenotypic data key to blackberry evaluation.

- Assist with trial establishment, maintenance, and evaluation across multiple environments and production systems.

-Contribute to internal reporting, field days, and technical updates.

-Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, permitting, and biosafety requirements related to traited plant materials.

Key Responsibilities: Strawberry Pre-Breeding (~2/3 Time):

-Lead PSG's strawberry pre-breeding work focused on developing disease-resistant breeding lines.

-Develop, advance, and maintain pre-breeding strawberry populations carrying resistance traits against key strawberry pathogens.

-Collaborate with PSG's pathology team to screen germplasm against various pathogens.

-Collaborate with PSG's bioinformatics and molecular genetics staff to develop markers linked to disease resistance traits and utilize said markers to optimize pre-breeding efficiencies.

-Collaborate with PSG's strawberry breeders to support the integration of disease resistance into elite breeding lines using conventional and genomics-assisted breeding methods.

-Collect, organize, and summarize phenotypic data key to strawberry evaluation.

-Assist with trial establishment, maintenance, and evaluation across multiple environments and production systems.

-Contribute to internal reporting, field days, and technical updates related to the strawberry pre-breeding project.

Qualifications Required:

-MS or PHD in Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Plant Genetics, Plant Science, or a related field.

-Strong understanding of genetics, genomics, gene-editing, and applied breeding principles.

-Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

-Ability to work effectively across field, greenhouse, nursery, laboratory, and office settings.

-Strong communication and collaboration skills.

-Ability to travel as needed.

Preferred:

-Experience with perennial crops, berries, or woody plants preferred; blackberry and/or strawberry experience is a strong plus.

-Experience with molecular markers, trait integration, and biotechnology-enabled breeding approaches.

-Familiarity with disease-resistance breeding and germplasm development.

Development Opportunity:

This role offers significant exposure to advanced breeding tools, trait development strategies, molecular breeding tools, and commercialization pathways within a collaborative applied breeding environment.