Automation 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: Intern, Automation Engineering and Assay Development

Location: Berkeley, CA Headquarters 

Summer 2023 Internship May - August 2023  

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:  

In this role, an intern will:  

• 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.   

Physical Demands:  

• Job will be 25% lab work and 75% computer work 
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, or fingers  
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 35 pounds  
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing  
• Communicating with others to exchange information  
• Occasionally operating machinery 

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 live in assigned territory 
• Must be at least 20 years old for rental car purposes 

*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