Analytical Development Flow Cytometry Intern

States Considered: Michigan Role Description: Analytical Development Flow Cytometry Intern Location: KALAMAZOO, MI Internship Summary: 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 procotols. Internship Job Duties: • 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. Internship Qualifications: • 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 • Currently enrolled in a BS or MS program • Education in a field related to a life science The following hourly pay rates reflect the anticipated base pay for this position: If the selected candidate is a student pursuing an Associate-level degree: $16.00 per hour If the selected candidate is a student pursuing an Undergraduate-level degree: $22.00 per hour If the selected candidate is a student pursing a Graduate-level degree: $32.50 per hour If the selected candidate is a student pursuing a Doctorate-level degree: $36.00 per hour The following hourly pay rates reflect the anticipated base pay for this position if a selected candidate were to be located in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois (Chicago area), Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington (Seattle area): Student pursuing an Associate-level degree: $17.00 per hour Student pursuing an Undergraduate-level degree: $24.20 per hour Student pursing a Graduate-level degree: $36.40 per hour Student pursuing a Doctorate-level degree: $40.30 per hour Full time Intern (Trainee) Colleague …