Principal Scientist: Plant Physiology

Job Title Principal Scientist - Plant Physiology Sector Innovation Oasis Department Science and Research Section Plant health/ Physiology Reporting Lines Direct Reports To: Sr. Research Manager- Plant Physiology Job Purpose The Center of Excellence for Abiotic Resilience and Crop Genomics (ARC-Gen) is a partnership between Silal, the UAE’s leading agri-food and technology company, and Limagrain Vegetable Seeds (LVS), the world leader in Vegetable Seeds. This partnership is aiming to develop a world class research facility in UAE with state-of-the-art capabilities in plant physiology and gene editing, with the ultimate goal of enhancing crops’ ability to withstand extreme conditions such as heat, drought, and salinity. As a Principal Scientist in Plant Physiology, you will contribute to the development of the Plant Physiology Research Unit at ARC-Gen and manage research projects in plant physiology to support the development of abiotic resilience traits. You will play a critical role in shaping the plant physiology research strategy at ARC-Gen. This role involves designing and implementing experiments to understand plant physiological mechanisms and their genetic control and translating findings into actionable strategies for abiotic resilience improvement in targeted crops. Your work will contribute directly to global priorities such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience. Key Responsibilities
Lead experimental design and execution to understand plant responses to abiotic stresses. Develop and validate physiological assays for traits such as drought, salt or heat tolerance. Interpret data to identify physiological traits linked to stress tolerance. Partner with other scientific teams to prioritize candidate genes based on physiological impact. Develop and validate phenotyping protocols for edited plants. Monitor emerging technologies in phenotyping and remote sensing for potential adoption. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (agronomists, (pre-)breeders, molecular and cell biologists, biostatisticians, etc.) to integrate physiological insights into abiotic stress projects, and ultimately link physiological traits with genetic pathways. Optimize phenotyping protocols. Work closely with trait experts for rapid assessment of plant performance. Present research findings internally and at scientific conferences contribute to publications.
Project Leadership & Management
Propose, design, and manage research projects Act as an expert in your domain and collaborate across research areas for timely delivery. Drive innovation and continuous improvement to accelerate research processes. Ensure efficient transfer of deliverables and know-how to end users. Manage a small team (1-3 assistants/technicians). Participate in building collaborations with world-class experts maintaining cutting-edge knowledge in the field.
Financial Management
Contribute to project budgeting and research workplan development.
People Management
Mentor and supervise technicians in best practices for technology use.
Stakeholder Management Key Internal Stakeholders
All Sectors, Departments and Offices Any other concerned internal stakeholders as required
Key External Stakeholders
Concerned government, semi-government and private sector entities Any other concerned external stakeholders as required
Required Qualification Academic Qualifications
Ph.D. in Plant Physiology or related field. Fluent in English.
Professional Experience
Deep understanding of plant physiological processes and their interaction with genetics and environment Experience in Crop Modelling is a plus Proven track record of managing projects and delivering results Proficiency in experimental design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation Experience with high-throughput precision phenotyping is a plus
Competencies Technical Competencies
Abiotic Stress Mechanistic Modeling: Deciphering and modeling how plant physiological pathways respond to extreme heat, drought, and salinity. Expert Precision Phenotyping Assay Development: Designing and validating high-accuracy assays and remote sensing protocols to quantify stress tolerance traits. Expert Genotype-to-Phenotype Mapping: Collaborating with geneticists to link specific physiological responses to their underlying genetic control pathways. Expert Functional Trait Validation: Performing rapid, rigorous assessments of genome-edited plants to verify improved performance in desert-like conditions. Expert Scientific Strategy & Unit Design: Shaping the R&D roadmap and experimental workflows for the establishment of a world-class Physiology Research Unit. Expert