Poultry Diagnostic Services Intern

About the role

As a Poultry Diagnostic Services Intern, you will assist diagnostic laboratory specialists with various assays supporting biologics and biodevice projects. This role involves routine laboratory work, including sample receipt and organization, sample processing, nucleic acid extraction, qPCR, and data analysis. You will apply molecular biology techniques for virus and bacterial detection, as well as vaccine monitoring. You will have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art automation equipment to streamline high-throughput clinical sample processing and contribute to efficient data management within a digital platform. Additionally, you'll also gain experience using software tools for data visualization, analysis, and reporting. Working alongside the Poultry Technical Services team, you will develop knowledge of commercial poultry vaccine applications and gain a deeper understanding of the poultry industry.

Responsibilities

• Assist with sample collection, preparation, handling, daily lab procedures and live bird studies.
• Learn to perform molecular assays (nucleic acid extraction, RT-PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis) for virus or bacterial detection.
• Operate automation equipment to enhance throughput and efficiency.
• Collaborate with experienced team members to develop and optimize molecular assays that address real-world challenges.
• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental data and findings.
• Optimize sample submissions workflow within digital data management platform (LIMS), ensuring accurate and complete record-keeping.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree (sophomore or higher) or Master's in Biological Science, Life Sciences, Animal Science, Poultry Science, Veterinary Medicine, or a related field.
• Basic laboratory skills required. Including pipetting, micropipetting, and buffer preparation.
• Familiarity with nucleic acid extraction, PCR techniques, and gel electrophoresis is a plus.
• Understanding data analytics is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.