Soybean Rhizobia Interaction 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 products harness the power of naturally occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops and new sustainable ways for farmers to reduce the usage of fertilizers as they work to help feed the world’s growing population.

Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour. 

Location: Berkeley CA, travel once per week to Hayward CA 

Position:  Soybean Rhizobia Interaction Intern  

Schedule: Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm 

Summer 2023 Internship May - August 2023  

Soybean-Rhizobia interaction team is looking for Summer Interns to study interactions between plant and microbes and plant growth responses. Working with the Soybean-Rhizobia Team, our summer intern will work to complete an independent project to gain further experience in the area of beneficial plant-microbe interactions, molecular biology, plant physiology or other related fields. This will entail preparing the greenhouse for plant assays, scoring the morphological features, and harvesting plant tissues for DNA/RNA extraction, etc. for our rhizobial platform pipeline. 

Responsibilities:  

In this role, an intern will:  

• Learn and conduct various molecular biology assays in the lab to remodel and evaluate microbial performance to increase soybean yield 
• Troubleshoot and assist protocol iterations and proactively find ways to increase efficiency and automate processes as applicable 
• Analyze plant samples acquired from field trials to analyze the performance of engineered microbes 
• Prioritize daily tasks to meet the needs of all team members and effectively communicate progress and results in a timely manner 
• Detailed documentation of observations 

 Physical Demands:  

• Routinely walking, standing for long hours 
• Driving between Berkeley and Hayward and other locations as needed  
• Regularly lifting objects (up to 25 lbs)  

Qualifications and Experience:  

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's or higher degree in Biotechnology, Plant science, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental studies, and/or a related field 
• Experience in applying aseptic techniques, gowning requirements, and good documentation practices    
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record 
• Strong verbal and communication skills  
• Ability to self-manage time and execute assigned responsibilities  

*Must be authorized to work in the United States* 

What we offer:  

• Opportunity to gain professional experience in a progressive company 
• Exciting opportunity to work with a talented and fun team