SPD Research Intern

Join Vylor—Powering the Future of Agriculture

At Vylor, we’re advancing agriculture through breakthrough science—combining elite germplasm, cutting-edge biotech, and next-generation expertise in gene editing and molecular breeding. Our portfolio includes trusted industry brands like Pioneer®, Brevant®, and Hoegemeyer®, delivering performance farmers rely on.

Join us to help scale innovation globally and shape what’s next in crop science.

Job Description

Join our team as an Agronomy – Soil, Water & Plant Nutrition Intern in Vylor and participate in an intensive 3-month internship designed to provide hands-on, broad-based exposure to agronomic operations and cutting-edge field research at our research center in Salinas, Puerto Rico. This position offers a specialized focus on plant nutrition, fertility balance, advanced irrigation management, soil physics, and soil conservation practices, while also providing cross-functional rotation across all essential open-field agronomy operations.

Working alongside experienced agronomists and agricultural scientists, the intern will apply technical diagnostic tools—including soil moisture sensors, soil compaction penetrometers, and tissue/soil sampling protocols—to monitor crop health and optimize input efficiency. The intern will support field trial execution, contribute to data-driven fertility programs, and present a final technical summary of their findings to leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Soil & Water Management: Assist in the deployment, calibration, and monitoring of in-situ soil moisture sensors (FDR/capacitance/TDT), evaluating volumetric water content (VWC) curves, soil drying cycles, and irrigation scheduling to optimize crop water efficiency.
• Soil Compaction & Conservation: Conduct field soil compaction assessments using digital/analog cone penetrometers across different tillage systems; document compaction layers and recommend soil conservation practices (e.g., minimum tillage, cover crops, drainage improvements).
• Soil Fertility & Nutrient Balance: Execute systematic soil sampling protocols across research plots. Assist in tracking soil fertility parameters, soil pH, organic matter, and electrical conductivity (EC), helping calculate nutrient balance according to crop stage-specific nutrient uptake curves.
• Plant Nutrition & Tissue Sampling: Perform foliar and plant tissue sampling throughout critical crop phenological stages. Assist in the preparation, diagnostic analysis, and interpretation of tissue nutrient results to optimize fertigation and nutritional programs.
• Irrigation Systems & Fertigation: Assist in the design, setup, operation, and maintenance of drip irrigation systems, water distribution manifolds, filtration units, and fertigation injection equipment.
• Field Preparation & Planting Operations: Rotate through core agronomic activities, including land assignment, soil tillage, bed formation, drip tape installation, seed planting preparation, and trial stand establishment.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) & Scouting: Conduct routine crop scouting for early identification of weeds, insect pests, and disease pressures; support biological and chemical control measures and IPM best management practices.
• Agronomy Field Trials Execution: Support the setup, layout, treatment applications, data collection, and phenotypic evaluations for specific agronomy research and process improvement trials.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Collect, organize, and analyze agronomic trial data ensuring rigorous data integrity; prepare and deliver a comprehensive final oral presentation and technical poster summarizing key project findings and recommendations to the Salinas leadership team.
• Team Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Participate actively in weekly team meetings, safety discussions, and operational continuous improvement initiatives across the research station.

Qualifications

• Education Level: Current sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student pursuing a degree in Agronomy, Soil Science, Crop Science, Agro-Environmental Sciences, Plant Nutrition, Irrigation Engineering, or a closely related agricultural field at an accredited university.
• Enrollment Status: Must be enrolled at an accredited university during the internship period.
• Academic Standing: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale preferred.
• Data Accuracy & Technology: Strong attention to detail, rigorous data collection and documentation habits, and proficiency with digital tools (Excel, mobile data entry apps).
• Field Readiness: Willingness and physical ability to work outdoors in varied tropical field conditions (sun, heat, humidity).
• Communication & Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal communication, self-motivation, creative problem-solving ability, and passion for teamwork and sustainable agriculture.

What You Will Gain (Benefits)

• Hands-On Research Experience: Direct, practical experience operating research-grade field instrumentation and managing commercial/seed breeding agronomic trials.
• Deep Technical Mentorship: Work directly with experienced research agronomists, soil specialists, and crop scientists in a dynamic, world-class breeding station.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Comprehensive rotation through all facets of open-field agriculture—from land tillage and planting to advanced fertigation and harvest.
• Professional Development: Build valuable industry connections, develop data analysis and public presentation skills, and prepare for future career opportunities or graduate studies in agricultural sciences.