Protein Structure Search & Design Intern

At Syngenta, every employee plays a role in safely feeding the world and caring for our planet. Our Bioinformatics group in Durham, North Carolina, is seeking a Structural Bioinformatics Intern to advance protein discovery from metagenomic datasets. As part of a high-performance scientific team, you will develop cutting-edge skills in structure-based protein search, function prediction, and computational design to deliver innovative solutions for agricultural biotechnology.

Role Purpose

• Apply structural bioinformatics methods to discover novel proteins
• Develop computational workflows that integrate sequence and structure-based search algorithms to identify and rank protein candidates

Accountabilities

• Implement protein structure-based search workflows using tools like FoldSeek, ESMFold, and Boltz
• Perform structural analysis and annotation of protein candidates
• Develop Python/Bash scripts for data processing and visualization
• Document workflows, create user guides, and present findings to cross-functional teams
• Collaborate with other scientists to refine research strategies based on biological insights
• Share results and learnings at team meetings and educate team members on workflows and results

Requirements

Education

• Current MS or PhD student in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Structural Biology, or related field

Technical

• Proficiency in Python and/or R for bioinformatics (PyRosetta a plus)
• Basic understanding of protein structure concepts (protein domains, structural alignment)
• Familiarity of protein structure prediction methods (AlphaFold2, ESMFold, Boltz)
• Familiarity with protein structure visualization (PyMOL or ChimeraX)
• Experience with Linux/Unix command-line environments
• Knowledge of sequence analysis tools (BLAST, alignment methods)

Analytical

• Ability to work with large datasets and implement reproducible computational workflows
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Experience with protein structure comparison tools (TM-align, FoldSeek)
• Experience with protein function prediction tools (InterProScan or ESM-based methods)
• Knowledge of protein databases (PDB, UniProt, AlphaFoldDB, ESM Metagenomic Atlas)
• Experience with HPC or cloud computing
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Enthusiasm for learning new computational methods and tools
• Experience presenting technical work to diverse audiences

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. 
Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI