Internship Opportunity: Project Forward Breeding

Location

Astene

Working hours

Full-time

Contract Type

Temporary

Working area

R&D

Join the team

The primary objective of the internship is to develop a clear and structured understanding of the Forward Breeding activities at the Astene site. The focus is to capture and document the process as it currently exists, including:

Process steps and workflow
Inputs and outputs
Decision points
Hand-offs between teams
Known pain points and bottlenecks
Areas where the process is still evolving or under discussion

The outcome is a structured process description and process map that can later serve as the foundation for optimization, standardization, SOP development, and future digital solutions.

Responsibilities

The internship is not primarily a software-development assignment. A significant portion of the work involves:

Shadowing operators, breeders, and process experts
Conducting interviews and workshops
Understanding existing workflows and practices
Capturing tacit knowledge that currently resides with experts
Structuring and validating findings
Creating visual process maps and supporting documentation
Working closely with process owners and subject matter experts

The internship combines several disciplines:

Process Engineering & Business Analysis

Understanding complex workflows
Mapping processes and decision points
Identifying dependencies and interfaces
Capturing and organizing knowledge

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Conducting interviews
Working with experts and operators
Validating findings with stakeholders
Facilitating alignment where processes are still evolving

Documentation & Knowledge Management

Creating structured and maintainable process documentation
Building a reliable source of process knowledge
Developing visual and written process representations

Software & AI Enablement

Using digital tools to structure, organize, and maintain knowledge
Exploring how AI and software can improve accessibility and maintainability of captured knowledge
Supporting future digitalization opportunities where appropriate

Potential Digital Deliverables

Once sufficient process knowledge has been captured and structured, there may be opportunities to explore digital solutions such as:
A proof-of-concept knowledge-base application
Search and retrieval capabilities
Process visualization tools
AI-assisted knowledge-access concepts
These should be viewed as supporting outcomes that build upon the captured process knowledge, rather than the primary objective of the internship.

Expected Outcome

By the end of the internship, we expect to have:
A structured and validated process description
Clear process maps and documentation
Captured expert knowledge and decision rationale
A knowledge foundation that supports future optimization, standardization, and digitalization initiatives

Qualifications

Interest in plant biology
Attention to detail
Software and AI capabilities
Ability to work independently and communicate effectively

Benefits

So … are you a Belgian student, preferably in your last year, and ready to make our place yours for a couple of months (flexible start date, ideally from October onward). And do you feel your interests and talents could be a match? Then hit the apply button!

Come join us in bringing the lab to the field

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. We invest in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. With teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture. In 2023, our division generated sales of €10.1 billion.

For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

Application process

1. Application

You found the job you like on our website. Time to hit that ‘apply’-button and let us know who you are through the application form.

2. First encounter

We are intrigued by your application and call you immediately. At this point you can expect questions like: What motivates you? And what are your skills?

3. Interview

The call went great! So here you are, ready for your interview with HR and a hiring manager. We want to know more of your story and of course, you can ask about our story as well.

4. Contract

Welcome to our team. When can you start? So we can everything ready for your first day. You know, computer, paperwork, cake, balloons …

5. Onboarding

We welcome you with open arms and get you up and running. Including our eye-opening bootscamp, from the lab to the field.