Intern, Automation Engineering and Assay Development

About Pivot Bio: 

Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of the soil microbiome, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in agriculture. Our commercial products harness the power of naturally-occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops.  We provide new and sustainable ways for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population. Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour.

Position: Intern, Automation Engineering and Assay Development, Berkeley CA Headquarters

Pivot Bio is offering a full-time, paid summer internship with the Research Operations and Automation team as we continue to streamline and scale R&D efforts at Pivot. Working with the scientists and engineers on our team, you will be involved in day-to-day lab operations, support users, manage instruments, and troubleshoot issues as they come up. In addition, you will work to complete an independent project around process automation and/or assay development to gain further experience in automation and microbiology, molecular biology, or other related fields.

Our team thrives on collaboration and communication and this internship provides an excellent opportunity to work with a close-knit team of biologists, automation engineers, and other researchers while gaining hands-on experience in a biotech laboratory environment.

Responsibilities (assigned based on interest and experience):

• Support the R&D teams at Pivot by working with scientists, automation engineers, and end-users to innovate and improve our existing workflows, assays, and robotic methods.
• Draft SOPs and documentation to support new and existing automated assays and workflows.
• Assist the Research Operations team in identifying opportunities to improve quality of life for Pivot’s research teams. 
• Assist with coordination of logistics and automation activities in the lab to meet the needs of end-users and the Research Operations and Automation team.
• Provide a friendly and attentive demeanor during interactions and collaborations with the Pivot Bio scientific community. 

Qualifications and Experience:

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree or recent graduate in a biology and/or engineering related field, with hands-on microbiology lab experience preferred
• Clear communicator, detail oriented, able to follow SOPs
• Experience with sterile technique and basic molecular biology (e.g., PCRs) preferred
• Must be able to occasionally lift 25lbs and perform repetitive manual tasks, including pipetting or other hand motions

**Must be authorized to work in the United States

What we offer:

• Exciting opportunity to contribute to and work with a talented and fun team
• Opportunity to gain real-world, practical experience in your field of interest