Intern - Biofilm Mitigation Grad Student Support

Amentum•Huntsville, AL

32d•Onsite

About The Position

As an Amentum Space Exploration Division (ASED) intern, you will work alongside engineers and scientists on hardware development, payload integration & operations, laboratory & test operations, modeling & simulation, space environments, scientific research and propulsion systems for programs like Human Landing Systems, Space Launch Systems and the International Space Station! Job Description The Biofilm Mitigation Support Intern will work alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technicians supporting NASA mission research with a strong emphasis on laboratory safety, teamwork, and hands-on learning. This position provides practical experience contributing to biofilm studies, microbial mitigation, and biological testing relevant to current and future spaceflight needs. The selected candidate will support the ES62 Biofilm Mitigation team in day-to-day laboratory operations, including preparation of media and reagents, microbial culturing, analytical measurements, and maintenance of laboratory materials and instrumentation. Working under the guidance of senior laboratory personnel, the intern will gain exposure to microbiology techniques, biofilm growth and characterization methods, microscopy, the overlap between biology and engineering and general laboratory management. This internship is designed as a 2 to 3‑month work opportunity. Interns will present a poster to Amentum and NASA leadership at the end of their internship.

Requirements

BS degree in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, or a related technical discipline and enrollment in a MS degree program for Biomedical Sciences program or related field is required.
Coursework or laboratory experience with microbiology or analytical methods is desired.
Must be able to provide own transportation.
Ability to: Track, order, and organize laboratory supplies and support test planning by maintaining materials lists
Assist with test planning and preparation, including media preparation and autoclaving of materials
Revive bacterial and fungal frozen stocks for experimental use
Prepare common laboratory solutions such as Alconox, antibiotics, and light chemical reagents
Write and review laboratory documents, protocols, and manuscripts for clarity and accuracy
Performing colony counting, drop-plate assays, spiral plating, isolation streak plates, and serial dilutions
Using basic statistical and graphing tools (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
Strong organizational skills and ability to help ensure laboratory cleanliness and sanitization
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong teamwork and collaboration abilities, but able to confidently work independently on tasks as well
The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment is essential (100%).
Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

With or interest building test setups from existing components and being creative with hardware usage
Familiarity with microbial growth curves, spectroscopy, and microscopy
Some knowledge of wastewater systems and testing a plus
Knowledge/experience in hydroponics a plus

Responsibilities

See an experiment through developing a test plan to writing a final report
Determine the appropriate hardware component sizes, microbial doses, and flow rates based on given starting conditions or requirements
Assist in maintaining and troubleshooting laboratory instrumentation
Assist with shipment coordination, including delivery intake and proper storage
Maintain clear and accurate records of laboratory procedures
Organize chemical storage, including refrigerated chemicals and biological materials
Maintain biohazardous waste bins and disposal dates in accordance with safety protocols