Analytical Development Flow Cytometry Intern

Zoetis•Kalamazoo, MI

2d•$40•Onsite

About The Position

The analytical development intern will work closely with project teams to provide improved analytical methods to support unmet needs and streamline existing assays. The intern will gain experience working with vaccine products, applying flow cytometry to project and regulatory needs, and interacting with partner groups to improve assay design and transfer protocols.

Requirements

Be a self-motivated student interested in applying their experience to a real-world vaccine analysis problem
Must be proficient at flow cytometry and analysis of resultant data
Familiarity with tissue culture and sterile technique
Enrolled in an MS or graduating with an MS and entering a PhD program in the fall
Education in a field related to a life science

Responsibilities

Operate and troubleshoot flow cytometers
Empirically determine voltages and acquisition settings.
Perform compensation and develop appropriate gating strategies.
Assess instrument performance and data quality from the resulting data.
Analyze data in FlowJo.
Design and optimize fit-for-purpose assays
Work with partner groups to define assay needs and performance goals.
Use literature and existing assays to establish a baseline workflow.
Evaluate assay performance and identify critical variables.
Use data-driven, iterative optimization to improve assay performance and robustness.
Grow, manage, and enumerate vaccine-relevant strains and antigens
Grow and manage vaccine strains using aseptic technique and strain-specific conditions.
Perform tissue-culture activities and follow strain-specific growth requirements.
Enumerate cultures and assess antigen abundance or presentation using multiple methods.
Evaluate how culture conditions affect antigen quality and assay results.
Write protocols and transfer methods
Write clear, concise protocols covering procedures, controls, critical parameters, and troubleshooting.
Document assay development, optimization, limitations, and recommended conditions.
Transfer methods to partner groups and train non-experts to perform them correctly.
Present findings to partner groups
Present results, conclusions, limitations, and recommendations clearly.
Explain the scientific rationale and workflow to technical and non-expert audiences.
Use data to support recommendations and gain alignment on next steps.