Research Intern (m/f/d) in Breeding & Phytopathology

KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. Nearly 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.68 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for almost 170 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants' resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €300 million last fiscal year in research and development.

Research Intern (m/f/d) in Breeding & Phytopathology

Location: Seligenstadt Breeding Station (near Würzburg), Germany
Start date: June 1, 2026
Duration: Up to 6 months

The Sugar beet Breeding Department and the Breeding Station Seligenstadt of KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA are looking for a motivated Research Intern (m/f/d) who would like to gain hands-on experience in applied plant breeding, digital phenotyping, phytopathology, and field trialing.

In this internship, you will work closely with experts at the Seligenstadt breeding station and contribute to developing Sugar beet varieties with improved resistance to insect-transmitted diseases. You will gain valuable insights into field work, pre-breeding and plant cultivation, agronomic trials, and disease monitoring.

• Gain in-depth insights into commercial plant breeding practices within an international breeding organization.
• Participate in a wide range of hands-on technical tasks throughout the season.
• Take responsibility for your own small project in the field of breeding, phytopathology or agronomy, depending on the topic and timing.
• Work closely with the Seligenstadt team and collaborate with sugar beet breeders and phytopathologists based in the headquarters in Einbeck.
• Travel is required as part of project activities.
• Regular exchange with your supervisor to support your personal and professional development.
• Build a professional network within KWS.
• Work in a team atmosphere is characterized by respect and collaboration.

• Interest and motivation to perform actual field work.
• Field of study such as agricultural sciences, plant breeding, phytopathology, seed sciences, data sciences, biology, or a related field.
• You share our corporate values: team spirit, proximity, trust, independence, and vision.
• You demonstrate good to very good academic performance.
• Good English language skills in writing and speaking. Knowledge of German is an advantage.
• A valid driver's license (class “B”).

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