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Biology Research Weed Scientist
US-NJ-Ewing (Princeton)
Opportunity Snapshot
In this role you will manage biology whole organism studies from start to finish as part of a growing herbicide biology group within the R&D organization of a global S&P 500 leader. Far from being confined to one or two aspects of research, you will be involved in designing, conducting and interpreting laboratory and greenhouse studies. Quick question for you - click here
You'll be able to expand your knowledge on an ongoing basis and we'll welcome your good ideas for products as well as process improvement. We think you'll be pleased with the resources, compensation and career opportunities at FMC. Our new Global Innovation Center in Ewing, including new lab and greenhouse facilities, demonstrates the commitment FMC has made to R&D (pictured).
FMC is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally for more than a century. As a global leader utilizing advanced technologies and customer-focused research and development, FMC provides innovative and cost-effective solutions to food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, specialty, and related industries.
The Role
Reporting to the Team Leader, Herbicides, you will join a team that includes another Weed Scientist, a Senior Weed Scientist, a Technician and two Greenhouse Production Administrators. The team may have anywhere from 5 to 20 studies under way at any given time. Projects focus on the efficacy of weed control and crop safety products, with the ultimate goal being regulatory approval and commercialization. A typical study lasts about four weeks, but they can range from two weeks to two months. Your specific activities will include:
- Working safely in a team environment to support Herbicide Development efforts by conducting advanced whole organism bioassays.
- Working both independently and within a small team with a minimum of supervision.
- Creating appropriate plans to test experimental hypothesis by identification, planning and organization of resources, space and time requirements.
- Designing and conducting moderately complex herbicide evaluations, including various application and evaluation methods.
- Collecting and summarizing data and delivering results and recommendations as oral and/or written reports as required.
- Providing input into new test protocol development and aligning methods with decision goals.
- Preparing and maintaining stocks of experimental and commercial herbicides.
- Using equipment, such as track-sprayers and field application apparatuses, to analyze the effectiveness of experimental herbicide formulations.
The Requirements
To be a good fit for this opportunity you will have:
- A bachelor's degree in Plant Biology or Weed Science with at least three to five years of experience, OR a master's degree in Plant Biology or Weed Science with at least one to three years of experience.
- Successful completion of college course work in (at minimum) weed science, plant physiology, weed taxonomy, weed control practices, organic chemistry and applied statistics.
- A thorough understanding of laboratory and greenhouse safety practices.
- Experience in conducting herbicide laboratory and greenhouse assays.
- Knowledge of life histories of various weeds and crop species used in herbicide evaluations. Quick question for you - click here
- Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
- The ability to use microscopes, balances, pH meters and other laboratory equipment used in herbicide evaluations.
- Computer skills in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as statistical software (we use Minitab).
- The ability to work in the laboratory and greenhouse, and to lift 15 kg.
Why FMC
Professional development -- you'll expand and enhance your knowledge and practical experience in this role. Depending on your ambition, talents and performance, down the road you might pursue promotional opportunities within the growing Herbicide Biology Team, such as a Team Lead role. You might also move along other paths within FMC, such as into business development in a field support role.
Collegial setting -- while FMC is a large corporation, our global research group is relatively small. You will be able to exchange ideas and insights with biologists, chemists, ecotoxicologists and other scientists all working in the Ewing facility. We encourage a strong sense of ownership, we're open to new ideas, and we provide excellent tools and resources.
The "best of both worlds" -- located on the Delaware River, Ewing, NJ offers the amenities of a small community just 15 miles from Princeton, NJ, home to a number of prestigious academic entities as well as research leaders in several industries. The R&D facility is separate from, but very near, FMC's corporate headquarters in Philadelphia. Relocation assistance is available.
Growth environment -- our senior leadership recently unveiled a plan for FMC to double in size by 2015 and we have a number of corporate-wide initiatives under way to accomplish that goal. That growth will create opportunities for strong leaders.
Excellent compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary we offer comprehensive benefits that include all you would expect plus some pleasant surprises, such as retirement savings and 401(k) plans, flexible spending accounts and more. Benefits take effect on day one of employment.
Keys to Success
To avoid confusion, this is not a field role, per se; you may go to our field research station in Georgia, but you'll invest the majority of your time in the lab and greenhouse here in Ewing. If you're coming from academia, you will need to transition to an "industry" mindset; while accuracy is essential, you often will move forward without the exhaustive data often necessary in academic work -- the goal is to gain a timely understanding to provide input into the product development process. To fit in well with our group you will be open to learning, both in terms of growing your subject matter knowledge and in terms of exploring new ways of doing things. You also will need a strong sense of integrity and a willingness to take a hard, searching look at why you got results different from what you expected.
About FMC
FMC Corporation is committed to providing employees with ample opportunities to contribute, lead and be recognized as innovators, to look beyond barriers to provide solutions, to be challenged in what they do and to love doing it. FMC is an S&P 500, diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally for more than a century. As a global leader utilizing advanced technologies and customer-focused research and development, FMC provides innovative and cost-effective solutions to food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, specialty and related industries.
FMC employs people across a broad range of occupations in locations across the world. We are looking for people to join us in creating, developing, and improving our products, our processes, and our markets. Employees enjoy competitive compensation, a menu of work/life benefits and opportunities to continue developing their skills and building their career.
FMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MFDV and supports a drug free workplace.
Opportunity Snapshot
In this role you will manage biology whole organism studies from start to finish as part of a growing herbicide biology group within the R&D organization of a global S&P 500 leader. Far from being confined to one or two aspects of research, you will be involved in designing, conducting and interpreting laboratory and greenhouse studies. Quick question for you - click here You'll be able to expand your knowledge on an ongoing basis and we'll welcome your good ideas for products as well as process improvement. We think you'll be pleased with the resources, compensation and career opportunities at FMC. Our new Global Innovation Center in Ewing, including new lab and greenhouse facilities, demonstrates the commitment FMC has made to R&D (pictured).
FMC is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally for more than a century. As a global leader utilizing advanced technologies and customer-focused research and development, FMC provides innovative and cost-effective solutions to food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, specialty, and related industries.
The Role
Reporting to the Team Leader, Herbicides, you will join a team that includes another Weed Scientist, a Senior Weed Scientist, a Technician and two Greenhouse Production Administrators. The team may have anywhere from 5 to 20 studies under way at any given time. Projects focus on the efficacy of weed control and crop safety products, with the ultimate goal being regulatory approval and commercialization. A typical study lasts about four weeks, but they can range from two weeks to two months. Your specific activities will include:
- Working safely in a team environment to support Herbicide Development efforts by conducting advanced whole organism bioassays.
- Working both independently and within a small team with a minimum of supervision.
- Creating appropriate plans to test experimental hypothesis by identification, planning and organization of resources, space and time requirements.
- Designing and conducting moderately complex herbicide evaluations, including various application and evaluation methods.
- Collecting and summarizing data and delivering results and recommendations as oral and/or written reports as required.
- Providing input into new test protocol development and aligning methods with decision goals.
- Preparing and maintaining stocks of experimental and commercial herbicides.
- Using equipment, such as track-sprayers and field application apparatuses, to analyze the effectiveness of experimental herbicide formulations.
The Requirements
To be a good fit for this opportunity you will have:
- A bachelor's degree in Plant Biology or Weed Science with at least three to five years of experience, OR a master's degree in Plant Biology or Weed Science with at least one to three years of experience.
- Successful completion of college course work in (at minimum) weed science, plant physiology, weed taxonomy, weed control practices, organic chemistry and applied statistics.
- A thorough understanding of laboratory and greenhouse safety practices.
- Experience in conducting herbicide laboratory and greenhouse assays.
- Knowledge of life histories of various weeds and crop species used in herbicide evaluations. Quick question for you - click here
- Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
- The ability to use microscopes, balances, pH meters and other laboratory equipment used in herbicide evaluations.
- Computer skills in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as statistical software (we use Minitab).
- The ability to work in the laboratory and greenhouse, and to lift 15 kg.
Why FMC
Professional development -- you'll expand and enhance your knowledge and practical experience in this role. Depending on your ambition, talents and performance, down the road you might pursue promotional opportunities within the growing Herbicide Biology Team, such as a Team Lead role. You might also move along other paths within FMC, such as into business development in a field support role.
Collegial setting -- while FMC is a large corporation, our global research group is relatively small. You will be able to exchange ideas and insights with biologists, chemists, ecotoxicologists and other scientists all working in the Ewing facility. We encourage a strong sense of ownership, we're open to new ideas, and we provide excellent tools and resources.
The "best of both worlds" -- located on the Delaware River, Ewing, NJ offers the amenities of a small community just 15 miles from Princeton, NJ, home to a number of prestigious academic entities as well as research leaders in several industries. The R&D facility is separate from, but very near, FMC's corporate headquarters in Philadelphia. Relocation assistance is available.
Growth environment -- our senior leadership recently unveiled a plan for FMC to double in size by 2015 and we have a number of corporate-wide initiatives under way to accomplish that goal. That growth will create opportunities for strong leaders.
Excellent compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary we offer comprehensive benefits that include all you would expect plus some pleasant surprises, such as retirement savings and 401(k) plans, flexible spending accounts and more. Benefits take effect on day one of employment.
Keys to Success
To avoid confusion, this is not a field role, per se; you may go to our field research station in Georgia, but you'll invest the majority of your time in the lab and greenhouse here in Ewing. If you're coming from academia, you will need to transition to an "industry" mindset; while accuracy is essential, you often will move forward without the exhaustive data often necessary in academic work -- the goal is to gain a timely understanding to provide input into the product development process. To fit in well with our group you will be open to learning, both in terms of growing your subject matter knowledge and in terms of exploring new ways of doing things. You also will need a strong sense of integrity and a willingness to take a hard, searching look at why you got results different from what you expected.
About FMC
FMC Corporation is committed to providing employees with ample opportunities to contribute, lead and be recognized as innovators, to look beyond barriers to provide solutions, to be challenged in what they do and to love doing it. FMC is an S&P 500, diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally for more than a century. As a global leader utilizing advanced technologies and customer-focused research and development, FMC provides innovative and cost-effective solutions to food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, specialty and related industries.
FMC employs people across a broad range of occupations in locations across the world. We are looking for people to join us in creating, developing, and improving our products, our processes, and our markets. Employees enjoy competitive compensation, a menu of work/life benefits and opportunities to continue developing their skills and building their career.
FMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MFDV and supports a drug free workplace.
