About this role
Researcher Vectoring (m/f/d) Agriculture plays a fundamental role in fulfilling many of humanity's basic needs: food, feed, energy. To support growers and those who take care of our environment, BASF develops innovative solutions for farming, pest control and landscape management - so that we can effectively contribute to improving people's lives and business' demands. Come join us on our journey to create solutions for sustainable agriculture at the Innovation Center of BASF Belgium Coordination Center CommV in Gent, Belgium. RESPONSIBILITIES Within BASF Seed and Traits R&D, vectoring refers to the design and creation of nucleic acid constructs and bacterial strains used in generation of genetically modified plants. The Molecular Biology group provides state-of-the-art expertise in this area, and is highly experienced in workflow-based operational organization aimed at minimal cost and timelines while ensuring required quality. The group is embedded in Trait Research, a research department that focuses on trait design, creation and testing. For the Molecular Biology group in our R&D Innovation Center in Gent (Belgium) we are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Researcher. These are your tasks: o In this role you will be part of our Molecular Biology group and will deliver on R&D projects at a competitive cost, speed and quality. o As a Researcher, you will be involved in the execution and organization of construct design and construct creation for transgenesis, genome editing and transient expression approaches for our Research projects. o You will be involved in workflow-based operations where you will interact with both construct requestors and up-and downstream operations within (an) agile project team(s). o Ensuring proper understanding of the scientific question, you will turn requests into actual constructs, independently designing, coordinating and executing experimental vectoring approaches, applying all necessary regulatory and quality requirements. o You will ensure data and material integrity and traceability, and will interpret, analyze and report the outcomes of experimental approaches timely and independently. o You will conduct scientific literature studies as guided. QUALIFICATIONS o You have a master's degree in Life Sciences with a minimum of 5 years of relevant lab experience. o Multi-year experience in independent vector design and vector construction (including non-modular cloning) for (plant) genetic engineering and/or genome editing is key. o You are capable of designing and implementing novel experimental vectoring approaches. o You have good knowledge and understanding of how gene expression is regulated. o You have hands-on experience with the relevant vectoring laboratory techniques. o Additional experience in (plant) molecular characterization (DNA, RNA and/or protein based) is a plus. o Self-leadership is key, and good training and coaching skills are highly valued. o You have advanced computer skills (Microsoft Office) and a digital mindset. Experience with Geneious and CLC Workbench is a plus. o You are a team player: flexible, open to changing environment and with a pro-active attitude o You have effective and proactive communication and presentation skills, and you are excellent in verbal and written English. o You are positive, enthusiastic, pragmatic and you have a getting-things-done mentality. o You are an innovative thinker in process & efficiency improvement.