Digital R&D Manager Solves Agronomic Challenges

Name: Kirt L. Durand (he/him)

PhD: Analytical Chemistry, Purdue University, 2014

What was your main area of research?

I studied how free radicals in the body would attack disulfide bonds in proteins causing them to rearrange (scramble) how they are connected and therefore change the functionality of that protein. This can lead to disease such as sickle cell and others.

What is your current job?

I am the North America Digital Research and Development Manager for Syngenta in Greensboro, North Carolina.

• Manage a team of 2 technical leads,1 data analyst, and 1 digital solutions lead

• Develop and implement the strategy for discovery, testing, and validating pre-commercial technologies and products (includes hardware, sensors, and software)

• Develop the protocols and evaluation studies with field teams

• Managed a multi-million dollar project budget

• Collaborate with the digital marketing team to develop a go-to-market plan for validated technologies

• Manage a diverse group of stakeholders in a matrixed global organization (including sales, agronomy, and marketing teams)

• Plan and execute an annual technical summit (Global event)

• Manage a group of farmers used as a focus group for new technology evaluation

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love getting to bring digital tools and services to our customers that can solve and impact agronomic or business challenges.

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Critical thinking and time management. Those skills have transferred to every role I've had.

I would also highlight the ability to manage my own time.

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

A lot of self learning, asking questions, and engagement with my network and coworkers. Online training courses like LinkedIn learning are great ways to upskill yourself.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

Internal networking and volunteering with company events.

PhD graduate ➡️ Staff Scientist ➡️ Team Leader Product Technology & Engineering ➡️ Manager, Digital R&D

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Get experience with sales, agronomy, and project management

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

I mainly stayed away from academia because I did not want to deal with the discomfort of finding research funding and publishing.

Finances were also taken into account. I got the impression that early in your career, you made more in the industry.

It was an easy decision.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

Find a mentor. It's important to have someone in your corner who has walked this path before. It can make the journey easier and more fulfilling.

Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?

I would only add that growing up poor instilled a work ethic in me that fuels me to this day. Failure was never an option because there was no plan B.