Internship Positions
Supervising Lab/Company: Clevenger Lab
Position: Agricultural Genomics Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level
Hours per week: 30
Description: The Clevenger Lab focuses on the use of genomics for crop improvement. In this agriculturally-focused position, the intern will learn key skills for genome sequencing and assembly in the wet lab and computationally. Under their mentor’s guidance, they will assemble a high-quality HiFi genome of a plant or animal species. They will also work in the wet lab, assisting in various projects, including DNA extraction and library preparation. The intern will learn about the various methods by which DNA can be extracted and prepared for skim-sequencing and HiFi sequencing.
Experience or Skills: Enthusiasm and curiosity. Experience with the command line (Linux) and/or basic lab skills would help but is not required.
Supervising Lab/Company: Genome Sequencing Center
Position: Bioinformatics Research Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level
Hours per week: 30
Description: This internship position will supporting the bioinformatics and data analysis efforts of the Genome Sequencing Center. In this position, you will support a team of scientists in the manipulation, assembly, and exploration of the genomic sequence of organisms relevant to the Department of Energy (DOE). Possible projects include genome assembly, genetic map generation/integration, and next-generation sequence analysis. Main responsibilities will include working closely with informaticists & scientists as they design/implement computational tools for use at the GSC.
Experience or Skills: A strong interest in bioinformatics and computer science is required. Programming experience (Python, Perl, C++) and strong math skills are needed. Comfortable working with Mac/Linux/Unix-based systems is preferred.
Supervising Lab/Company: Acclinate
Position: Business Development Assistant
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate
Hours per week: 20
Description: Acclinate is seeking a business development intern with an interest in life sciences and business. This intern will assist the team with market research, data management, and material creation for new and emerging projects. This will include interacting with the team and external clients. Additionally, this intern will assist with refining business development content for multiple platforms – including print, web, and social media. The intern will function as part of the Acclinate team by contributing ideas and executing plans.
Experience or Skills: Strong communication skills – written and oral. Ability and willingness to learn HubSpot and other social media platforms. Assisting in reaching stated metrics and performance outcomes.
Supervising Lab/Company: Swaminathan Lab
Position: CABBI RISE Internship in Plant Genomics and Biotechnology
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: We will consider sophomore or junior undergraduates who have chosen biological sciences or a related field as their major.
Hours per week: 30
Description: The Swaminathan Lab uses genomics and biotechnology to understand traits of importance for sustainable bioenergy feedstock production. Students working on this product will gain experience with promoter and gene discovery, as well as plant transformation and transgenic characterization methods. They will interact with both the BioTrain Cohort at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, as well as CABBI-RISE students and Faculty.
The student will be expected to attend the CABBI retreat at the University of Illinois (June 23-June 29, 2024) as well as other select CABBI-RISE events. Funding will be provided for travel and expenses.
The dates for this position will be May 30 – August 2, 2024. This position is funded through a DOE BER Bioenergy Research Center Grant, CABBI and is targeted at helping students from groups underrepresented in STEM develop research skills and be exposed to career paths in plant genomics and biotechnology. Preference will be given to applicants from populations underrepresented in science.
Experience or Skills: An interest in exploring careers in plant biology, genomics, and biotechnology is essential, but no prior experience is required.
Supervising Lab/Company: S. Cooper Lab
Position: Cancer Genomics Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Completed two years of college, or the equivalent
Hours per week: 30
Description: The Sara Cooper Lab at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is focused on cancer genomics. We use a combination of genomic assays to understand the development and progression of cancer. We are particularly interested in how tumors respond to existing and novel therapies. Interns in our laboratory will have opportunities to test the response of cells to well-known and novel drugs in a cell culture system and analyze genomic data using existing statistical methods. All members of the lab are expected to work together under the supervision of Dr. Sara Cooper.
Experience or Skills: Completed coursework in organic chemistry, general biology, including a biology lab and Calculus 1. Experience or coursework in statistics and/or computer science is also useful. The ideal candidate will be independent, curious and have good communications skills.
Supervising Lab/Company: Acclinate
Position: Communications Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate
Hours per week: 20
Description: Acclinate is seeking a Communications Intern with an interest in communications or journalism. The intern must have a general desire and ability to support the communications team in their efforts and assist with brainstorming and ideation for content messaging for various social media platforms.
Experience or Skills: Applicants with some or all the following skills will be preferred: Strong writing and editing skills; familiarity with social media analytics; project management skills; ability to work independently to carry out responsibilities while also being a team player; active contributor with ideas, energy and the desire to succeed.
Supervising Lab/Company: Communications
Position: Communications Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate majoring in Communication, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field. Previous internship and/or work experience in Communications, Marketing, or a related position preferred.
Hours per week: 25
Description: The Communications intern will assist with internal and external communications strategies and execution. The intern will assist in brainstorming and be responsible for implementing tactics in support of Institute communications efforts. Additionally, the intern will write, create, and implement content for the intranet, web, and social media. The applicant should have a general desire and ability to support the communications team in their efforts. The intern should be flexible and curious, and interested in learning about effective communication strategies.
Experience or Skills: Applicants with some or all of the following skills will be preferred: Strong writing and editing skills; knowledge of WordPress/HTML; familiarity with social media analytics; excellent project management skills; ability to work independently to carry out responsibilities, while also a team player; high degree of self-discipline and ability to meet tight deadlines in the face of multiple and changing priorities; active contributor with ideas, energy and the desire to succeed as a company, business, and team.
Supervising Lab/Company: G. Cooper Lab
Position: Computational Research Intern in Genomic Sciences
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Upper-level Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate
Hours per week: 30
Description: The opportunity will involve programming to support a clinical genetics research project. Particular focus will be given to the development of computational tools to track and manage analyses. Applicants should have a strong interest in both computation and biology.
Experience or Skills: A desire to learn about functional and/or computational genomics and neurodevelopmental diseases. Some laboratory and/or computational experience is desirable but not required.
Supervising Lab/Company: Cochran Lab
Position: Dementia Genomics Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: N/A
Hours per week: 30
Description: The Cochran lab is focused on genomic contributors to dementias, with a focus on Alzheimer’s and related dementias. We want to understand how neurodegeneration-associated genes are regulated, and how genetic variation may affect that regulation and/or risk for disease. We employ both computational and wet lab approaches.
Experience or Skills: A desire to learn about functional and/or computational genomics and neurodegenerative diseases. Some laboratory and/or computational experience is desirable but not required.
Supervising Lab/Company: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Position: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s level student majoring in science, psychology, education, business, or a related field.
Hours per week: 25
Description: This position will work closely with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at HudsonAlpha. Activities will include observing and supporting the implementation of DEI initiatives and diversity program planning. The position will also support the Office of DEI in developing diversity learning resources and working closely with members of HudsonAlpha’s Diversity Task Force. The selected student will gain day-to-day insight into diversity planning and support the implementation of the Office of DEI’s key diversity initiatives that work to foster an inclusive workplace at HudsonAlpha.
Experience or Skills: Ability to work independently as well as in a team. Highly motivated about Diversity Education. An ability to communicate in a professional and clear manner. Strong attention to detail. A solid foundation in word processing and Internet searches. A strong passion for advancing cross-cultural relations and collaboration.
Supervising Lab/Company: Economic Development
Position: Economic Development Assistant (Huntsville, AL)
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate
Hours per week: 25
Description: The Economic Development Department is seeking a BioTrain intern with an interest in the biosciences and with a career path in entrepreneurship and business at the Huntsville Campus of HudsonAlpha. This intern will assist the Economic Development team with recruiting companies to the campus, working on business retention efforts of the group, and programming about investment, innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. This will include interaction with a number of the HudsonAlpha Associate Companies as well as with HudsonAlpha’s mission areas. The intern will function as part of the Economic Development team, contributing ideas and executing plans for furthering the Institute’s mission.
Examples of projects and tasks could include 1) life sciences and biotechnology market research; public policy research; local, state, and federal government data management; workforce development strategies; funding opportunities for incubators, accelerators, and technology parks; and research on investments. These projects may be for the Economic Development team and/or for one or more of the resident associate companies. 2) assist with marketing for economic development strategic goals. This may include generating content for print, web, and social media.
Experience or Skills: Enthusiasm for entrepreneur- and recruitment-based economic development; interest in biotech job creation, capital investment, and building a regional hub for the biosciences; skilled writer with the ability to craft persuasive content; strong oral communication skills; ability to use open-source internet resources for business analysis and market research; a planned career path in business management, entrepreneurship, economic development, marketing, economics, or finance; understanding of basic accounting and finance principles in the context of business operations preferred.
Supervising Lab/Company: Economic Development
Position: Economic Development Assistant for HudsonAlpha Wiregrass (Dothan, AL)
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate
Hours per week: 25
Description: The HudsonAlpha Wirgrass Economic Development Department in Dothan, AL is seeking an intern with an interest in life sciences and a career path in a business-related field. This position will be located in the HudsonAlpha Wiregrass offices in Dothan, AL. This intern will assist the Economic Development team with recruiting companies to the campus, working on business retention efforts of the group, and programming about investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This will include interaction with a number of the HudsonAlpha Associate Companies as well as with HudsonAlpha’s mission areas and administration.
Examples of projects and tasks could include, but not be limited to, projects designed by and for an associate company, a variety of market research projects for the Economic Development group, and coordination and support of general HudsonAlpha events. Additionally, this intern will assist with refining economic development content for multiple platforms – including print, web, and social media. The intern will function as part of the Economic Development team, contributing ideas and executing plans for furthering the Institute’s mission.
Experience or Skills: Enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and recruitment-based economic development; interest in biotech job creation, capital investment, and building a regional hub for the biosciences; skilled writer with the ability to craft persuasive content; strong oral communication skills; ability to use open-source internet resources for business analysis and market research; a planned career path in business management, entrepreneurship, economic development, marketing, economics, or finance; understanding of basic accounting and finance principles in the context of business operations preferred. The intern in this position will travel to Huntsville, AL for BioTrain Boot Camp and for the BioTrain Poster Session (expenses paid). The remainder of the summer, the intern will be working in Dothan, AL. Housing is not available for this position.
Supervising Lab/Company: Discovery Life Science
Position: FFPE Clinical Data Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: A current student working towards a degree, preferably with a major in life sciences
Hours per week: 20
Description: Discovery Life Sciences are the Biospecimen and Biomarker Specialists‚ serving thousands of scientists across the U.S. and around the world. We are looking for a standout FFPE Clinical Data Intern, who will review and enter clinical diagnoses into the system. Are you someone with an interest in science looking for a future with a growing biotech company? To be successful in this role you must be curious, analytical, detail-oriented, love heavy computer work, and be a team player. Key responsibilities include 1) Review and proofread Pathology reports; 2) Assigning diagnoses in Salesforce; 3) Proofread FFPE data pipeline in Salesforce, and record diagnosis
Experience or Skills: Must be able to work in a team that values open and honest communication. Must embrace challenge, innovation, and continuous improvement. Must be someone who works hard, displays a can-do attitude, loves to have fun, and is able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Supervising Lab/Company: Educational Outreach
Position: Genetic Counseling Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate pursuing a career as a genetic counselor
Hours per week: 20
Description: This position will work closely with the genetic counseling team at HudsonAlpha. Activities will include observing and supporting the provision of genetic counseling at HudsonAlpha and the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine, LLC. The position will also help develop and implement educational resources and programs for healthcare audiences. The selected student will gain hands-on experience communicating complex genomic information in person, over the phone, and in writing.
Experience or Skills: Ability to work independently as well as in a team. Ability to communicate in a professional and clear manner. Strong attention to detail. A foundational understanding of genetics and genomics concepts. Documentation of COVID-19 and Hepatitis B vaccination (or willingness to complete prior to the start of the internship) is required. Willingness to comply with Institute and the Smith Family Clinic policies and procedures.
Supervising Lab/Company: Myers Lab
Position: Genomics Laboratory Assistant
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate
Hours per week: 30
Description: Interns will be immersed in a leading genomics laboratory, working on a variety of projects relating to human disease and transcriptional regulation. The Myers lab uses genomic approaches to better understand and classify human disease, focusing on neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer, Huntington, Parkinson diseases, and ALS. Interns can expect to learn a variety of techniques, both on the lab bench and computational, related to using genomics and genetics to study human biology and disease.
Experience or Skills: The most important requirement is a motivated student who will take advantage of the opportunity, as there are so few positions available for the number of applicants. While the student does not have to be certain that he/she wants to go to graduate school to become a scientist, we are definitely interested in undergraduate and Masters students who are considering science as a career (we will consider beginners, as well as those who already have some lab experience). Our lab is interested in students with an interest in both experimental laboratory and quantitative aspects of genomics and genetics.
Supervising Lab/Company: Information Technology Department
Position: IT/Cyber Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: N/A
Hours per week: 25
Description: The Information Technology and Cybersecurity organization is seeking an IT/Cyber intern to participate in developing a cybersecurity profile and participating in security initiatives to help define how to best secure genomic data, systems, and laboratories. The IT/Cyber intern will help evaluate and document core compliance frameworks (i.e., Access Control, Configuration Management, and System Integrity) against the innovative technologies and pipelines used across genomic laboratories.
Preferred Experience or Skills: Experience with cybersecurity best practices; experience working on Windows and Linux operating systems; experience with basic scripting (e.g., Python, Bash, etc.); experience in technical documentation writing; general working knowledge of hardware (e.g., Servers, network devices); general working knowledge of IT and software development tools (i.e., AD, GitHub); general working knowledge of cybersecurity tools (e.g., vulnerability scanning, SIEM, anti-virus); strong written and verbal communication skills.
Supervising Lab/Company: Chonex
Position: Microbiology Lab Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Masters level graduate student in Biology, Microbiology, or a similar field.
Hours per week: 20
Description: Chonex is pioneering new organic and sustainable ways to improve the health of the world’s soils. Our first product – StrongSoil – uses beneficial microbes to restore the health of the soil, resulting in healthier crops and higher yields for growers, all while using fewer inputs. Depending on the student’s interest, there are multiple options for projects related to microbiology and soil health. One option is to work directly on microbe isolation and characterization to improve plant performance. Another option is to work on microbe secretome sampling, analysis, and comprehension. This internship will help support the development of a quality control method.
Preferred Experience or Skills: An interest in exploring careers in biology, genomics, and biotechnology is essential, but no prior experience is required.
Supervising Lab/Company: CFD Research Corporation
Position: Microfluidics Lab Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s level graduate
Hours per week: 30 hours per week, based on student availability
Description: CFDRC Bioscience & Bioengineering group is currently seeking highly motivated individuals to support the testing and characterization of lab-on-a-chip systems for biomedical applications.
Specific responsibilities include: Working with a group of scientists and engineers, providing research and laboratory support on the development of various cellular and biomolecular microfluidic systems, implementing previously developed test protocols, investigating improvements and modifications, validating and documenting new processes.
Position Requirements: Candidates must be pursuing a degree in science or engineering. Candidates pursuing advanced degrees are encouraged to apply. Prior experience in one or more of the following is preferred: microfluidics, cell-based assays, and fluorescence microscopy. Experience with aseptic technique and prior lab research experience is a plus. Good communication skills are required, both oral and written, to prepare summaries, graphs, and other materials to document results. US Citizenship is required.
Supervising Lab/Company: Kailos Genetics
Position: Molecular Diagnostics Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s level
Hours per week: 30
Description: The intern in this position will perform basic research for novel pharmacogenomics, human identity, and/or hereditary cancer risk clinical assays. In support of DNA variant identification, the intern will develop and utilize laboratory skills, which include DNA extraction, PCR, and DNA sequencing applications. Additionally, the intern will write brief reports/ data summaries and contribute to presentations at scientific meetings.
Experience or Skills: Knowledge of the theories, practices, and procedures of PCR and DNA sequencing; strong organizational skills; previous experience with basic laboratory skills, including pipetting and PCR; Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to express scientific results in a clear, concise manner; experience in the use of computers in a laboratory setting and word processing software experience is preferred.
Supervising Lab/Company: Harkess Lab
Position: Plant Evolutionary Genomics Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s level
Hours per week: 30
Description: The Harkess Lab uses comparative genomics to study how flowering plants have evolved and diversified on our planet. We are seeking an enthusiastic intern who is interested broadly in plant biology and genomics, particularly related to how plants have evolved unique ways to undergo sexual and asexual reproduction. The intern will have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects related to plant evolutionary biology, developing skills ranging from molecular genetics to genome sequencing and computational genomics.
Experience or Skills: The most important skills are enthusiasm, independence, and the desire to learn new techniques in diverse plant species. Prior laboratory or computational experience with plants is not necessary but helpful.
Supervising Lab/Company: Swaminathan Lab
Position: Plant Genomics Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Junior and senior undergraduates with a biology major and some genetics coursework, as well as life science Master’s students.
Hours per week: 30
Description: The Swaminathan lab uses functional genomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to understand traits/phenotypes of importance for sustainable energy production. The intern will be exposed to techniques in molecular biology, genotyping, phenotyping, plant tissue culture, and biotechnology. We expect the student to be diligent, highly motivated, and interested in careers in plant biology and crop functional genomics.
Experience or Skills: Interest in plant biology, biotechnology, and agricultural genomics is essential, but no prior experience in the field is required. It is important that the intern is meticulous in note-taking, capable of working independently, and is an excellent team player. We collect samples and phenotypes in the field. The intern must be willing to work outdoors.
Supervising Lab/Company: Environmental Health & Safety Department
Position: Safety Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate pursuing a career in Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, or related field.
Hours per week: 20
Description: The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) department is looking for a safety intern who will assist with internal safety and related tasks. These include training, SDS inventory, corrective actions, internal audits, gap analysis, records maintenance, etc. The position will work closely with both the EHS department, other internal departments within HudsonAlpha, and potentially with Associate Companies on-site.
Experience or Skills: Undergraduate or Master’s Level Graduate pursuing a career in Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, or related field. Experience or Skills: General computer skills (Microsoft Office and Google apps), basic understanding of OSHA, and related entities, communication skills, ability to work as a team and independently.
Supervising Lab/Company: Educational Outreach
Position: Science Education Intern
Anticipated Positions: 1
Education Level: Undergraduate or Master’s level pursuing a career in life science education
Hours per week: 25
Description: HudsonAlpha Educational Outreach is seeking an undergraduate or Master’s level student preparing for a career in biology education to support the staff in educational programs throughout the summer. The intern will prepare laboratory spaces and materials for programs, prepare activities, and lead educational experiences for a variety of audiences (including middle school campers and community outreach participants). The intern will work alongside in-service educators engaging in multi-day professional learning workshops.
The intern will keep thorough records of educational outreach events. The intern will observe teaching in a variety of informal education settings and with a variety of student and adult audiences. The intern will engage as a participant in professional learning for in-service biology educators. The intern will have multiple opportunities to lead instruction and receive feedback from veteran educators. The intern’s research focus will be diving into current educational research to make data-driven recommendations for educator professional learning.
Experience or Skills: Good communication skills. Strong attention to detail. Self-directed and able to work independently. A solid foundation in word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet searches. A willingness to work with students of all ages.