Isolation Team Intern

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 first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops.  We are dedicated to providing new 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.  

Start Date: Must be able to start internship between May 15th – June 30st 

Term:  Must be able to commit to a three-month term at minimum. 

Schedule: Flexible, usually Monday through Friday.  Four or five eight-hour days. 

Compensation: $19/hr 

Position: Isolation Internship, Berkeley CA Headquarters 

 Pivot Bio is offering a full-time paid summer internship supporting microbial isolation experiments in pursuit of growing and diversifying our strain library. Working with the Microbial Isolation and Colonization Assays team, our summer intern will process plant and soil samples and set up plant assays to enrich for microbes of interest and build an isolation sample library, collecting microbiome samples to assess the effects of different plant growing conditions on community composition and diversity. Interns will also help with screening microbial colonies as part of our discovery pipeline, as well as subsequent purification and downstream characterization of isolates. In addition, each intern will work to complete an independent isolation-related project to gain further experience in microbiology, molecular biology, or other related fields. 

The Isolation team thrives on collaboration and communication, and this internship provides an excellent opportunity to work with a close-knit team while gaining hands-on experience in a biotech laboratory.   

 Responsibilities: 

• Supports the isolation pipeline through root and soil sample intake and processing, plant establishment and care, colony picking, PCR screening, and identifying and purifying candidate isolates  
• Helps design and execute plant selection experiments testing new growth conditions in search of tools to diversify input microbial communities at the entry to isolation processes 
• Upholds BSL2 containment and biosafety practices, complies with permit regulations and laboratory rules, maintains laboratory organization and cleanliness, restocks supplies as needed, and coordinates across teams for use of shared space and equipment 

 Qualifications and Experience 

• Current or recent college student, microbiology-related major 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 20-30 lbs and perform repetitive manual tasks, including pipetting or other hand motions for extended periods of time 

 Must be authorized to work in the United States 

What we offer: 

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