Developing Careers in Industry: Monsanto's TDRA Program.

Monsanto is a worldwide leader in the development of seed and biotechnology with a sole commitment to agriculture and producing leading seed brands in crops such as corn, cotton, and oilseeds, as well as vegetable crops. Like our commitment to agriculture, Monsanto is also committed to ensuring the success of our employees.  Monsanto’s Technology Development Representative Associate (TDRA) program is just one example of our commitment to employee development. The TDRA program is a 6-18 month role where the individual will provide technical leadership while developing the necessary skills to become a leader in agriculture at one of three Monsanto Learning Center’s. The program is designed for Ph.D. and M.S. degree scientists to gain knowledge and understanding of the Technology Development Representative (TDR) role and prepare them for future roles within Monsanto. Participants work with their manager to develop a specific training program that will hone their agronomic and personal skills while gaining experience in product development.  TDRA’s help lead the planning and execution of field research trials, evaluate and advance germplasm, and assess novel biotechnology traits in corn, soybean, and other crops. Over the duration of the TDRA program individuals will gain a thorough understanding of commercial product development through activities such as product and agronomic training for internal sales teams and external seed and retailer partners.  Monsanto’s TDRA program enables the employee to build strong working relationships with key personnel within Monsanto, as well as academia and commodity/grower organizations. Upon completion of the TDRA program, graduates will be armed with the necessary skills to become leaders within Technology Development and Monsanto.  The agronomic and product information acquired from the experiences gained during TDRA program prepares individuals to hit the ground running when placed in a territory and make an immediate impact on agriculture, Monsanto and their career.