Strain Discovery & Development 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. 

Position:  Strain Discovery & Development Intern 

Summer 2023 Internship May - August 2023   

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

Schedule: Flexible, usually Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work. Five, eight-hour days. 

We’re looking for: 

Pivot Bio offers a full-time paid summer internship supporting the Strain Discovery & Development team in designing and characterizing bacterial strains that will lead to more sustainable agricultural practices. This position will give ample opportunity to incorporate your molecular biology and microbiology knowledge into designing and building DNA constructs, engineering microorganisms, and evaluating their performance in vitro and in planta. Besides having fun tinkering with DNA and microbes, you will also learn about multiple in vitro and in planta analytical methods that help us understand the microbe and plant interactions.  

Our team thrives on collaboration and communication, and these internships provide an excellent opportunity to work with a close-knit team while gaining hands-on experience in a biotech laboratory. 

Responsibilities:  

• Engineer non-model microbial organisms using established SOPs.  
• Collaborate with Strain Discovery & Development team members for testing modified strains.   
• Analyze, document, and report data in a timely manner.  
• Conduct experiments both independently and under the guidance of Strain Discovery & Development scientists.  
• Keep abreast of the current literature to contribute to strain engineering and analysis efforts.  
• Give presentations as needed.  
• Other duties as assigned. 

 Physical Demands:  

• 75% lab work and 25% computer work. 
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, or fingers. 
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds. 
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing. 
• Communicating with others to exchange information. 
• Occasionally operating machinery. 

 Qualifications and Experience:  

• Current undergraduate students, recent graduates, or graduate students in molecular biology, microbiology, plant biology, or other life sciences departments.  
• Some laboratory experience in molecular biology, biochemistry or microbiology.  
• Experience or knowledge of standard molecular biology techniques including DNA purification, PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA construct design and assembly.  
• Experience or knowledge of microbial culture and sterile techniques.  
• Ability to follow detailed, multi-day SOPs.  
• Excellent time management and documentation skills.  
• Excellent communicator and team-player.  

*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