Strain Development Internship - Genetics (F/M/D)

Your mission

At Planet A Foods, we are revolutionizing the food industry to protect the planet we love. by perfecting centuries-old fermentation technology, we offer healthier alternatives and can save up to 500 Mt of CO2 per year!

We created the world’s first 100% cocoa-free chocolate called ChoViva. Our ChoViva tastes amazing with a solid snap and smooth melt as well as roasty notes and a subtle sweetness. It is completely natural, gluten-free, vegan and made with only seven ingredients! Choviva allows for a breathtakingly low carbon &
water footprint. This contributes towards the mitigation of both deforestation &
exploitation of child labour.

On our journey to protect our Planet A, the second product is going to be ChoViva Butter, a yeast-derived and substantially more sustainable replacement for cocoa butter produced via precision fermentation. To accelerate this endeavor, we are looking for a motivated Intern in our Strain Development Department who supports us in further improving our production organism - starting in September 2024. During this internship, you will work closely with our experienced research and development team to support and advance strain engineering projects. You will have the opportunity to learn and apply cutting-edge molecular techniques in the context of genetic and metabolic engineering. You will apply those techniques to our yeast strains to further enhance productivity and product quality.
Your tasks at Planet A Foods:

• Design and assembly genetic constructs for strain engineering projects
• Conduct molecular cloning techniques, such as PCR, DNA purification, and plasmid assembly
• Collaborate with the research team to optimize strain performance through metabolic engineering and pathway optimization
• Support in conducting strain screening experiments to characterize the engineered strains using various analytical methods
• Collect and analyze experimental data, and contribute to the interpretation and presentation of results
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, prepare reports, and present findings to the team
• Contribute to a clean and safe laboratory working environment

Your profile

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or - preferably - a Master's degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or a related field
• Strong interest in strain/metabolic engineering, genetics and synthetic biology
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, DNA cloning (ideally:
  Gibson, Golden Gate), microbial culture techniques and basic laboratory practices is highly appreciated
• Familiarity with genomic engineering tools and technologies such as CRISPR and genome editing is a plus
• Attention to detail, ability to work in a structured manner and follow experimental protocols
• Good analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Curious to excel beyond the mere performance of procedures with a strong desire to interpret and explain scientific observations
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Proficiency in the English language, including written and verbal communication skills
• This position is specifically designed for mandatory internships as part of the applicant's current curriculum. The internship is expected to be pursued for a minimum duration of four months - preferably 6+ months, in line with the academic requirements. Please note that we can only consider applicants who meet these mandatory internship criteria.

(Please note we are currently only looking for applicants that already have a work visa/permission to work in Germany, or of course, EU citizenship and we only hire interns that need to make a mandatory internship for university)How we hire at Planet A Foods

Joining the Planet A Foods team is more than just a job – it's a commitment to our core values that permeate every aspect of our business. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we go above and beyond to embed fairness and equity in our inclusive recruitment and hiring process. We are not only an Equal Opportunity Employer, but also proactive in embedding fairness and equity into an inclusive recruitment and hiring process.

Our Values:

Fellowship:
We share a great vision that can only be achieved as a team. We prefer enabling others to succeed instead of petting our egos.

On Discovery:
We keep our eyes, hearts, and minds open, curious to explore, improve and create new realities beyond the ordinary.

Creating impact:
We aim at building a better world. Science is at our hearts, and full of passion we progress on our journey.

Just do it:
We rather take a lousy first step than standing still or losing ourselves in discussions. Smart words are worth nothing if they are not accompanied by smart actions.

Why us?

Our hierarchy is flat and communication direct, which means that we operate and learn fast as a team. You can expect the following:

• Competitive Salary

• Flexible Working Hours

• Regular Team Events

• Daily Free Lunch + Free Drinks

• Daily Free Snacks (Of course with our delicious Choviva!)

• Fresh Fruit + Vegetables

• A Personalized Macbook Pro

• Entitled to 30 Days Holiday

• Your “normal” workplace is our office/lab (to build a strong culture we believe in physically meeting and interacting)

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. We consider all applications equally. We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups in tech to apply.

About us

It’s an audacious, incredibly rewarding mission that we are dedicated to achieving. Planet A Foods is built around the idea that everyone should be able to enjoy just, circular and waste-free food. To that end, we create a family of foods by upcycling clean (local/cruelty-free) ingredients with state-of-the-art biotechnology and flavor science.
Exciting challenges lie ahead — Join us on our mission!