Intern, Quality Lab

Vestaron is leading a peptide-based revolution in crop protection. The company is dedicated to improving the safety, efficacy and sustainability of crop protection through migration from chemical pesticides to biological peptides. Vestaron’s peptides provide growers with novel crop protection solutions that address proven targets and provide efficacy on par with or better than traditional chemical pesticides. Its peptides overcome existing resistance issues while offering a desired safety profile for workers, beneficials and the environment. Vestaron has earned global recognition for its work, including the inaugural 2015 Bernard Blum Award for a novel biocontrol solution, the prestigious Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2020 and “Best New Biologic Product” at the 2021 IHS Market Crop Science Awards.

The Opportunity:

Vestaron is currently recruiting an Intern to join our team in Durham NC reporting to Quality Lab Manager. The Quality Lab Intern will have the opportunity to work with highly skilled scientists on our development pipeline of our sustainable crop protection products, with pilot production scientists developing state-of-the art manufacturing processes and with Vestaron's CMOs. Daily work will include a mix of laboratory, data reporting, and meetings with the main emphasis on supporting the testing of experimental products.
Candidates should be able to commit to a minimum of three 3-hour time blocks weekdays during the semester between 9 am – 5 pm. Interns have the opportunity to work 10-20 hours per week during the semester and up to 30 hours per week during semester breaks. Internship is renewed on an annual basis based on candidate work quality and continued business need. Because of the resources allocated to training new interns, candidates MUST commit to a minimum of one year at Vestaron. Candidates must possess good communication skills, accountability, and attention to detail.

Responsibilities:

• Timely execution of experiments designed in conjunction with senior scientists and Quality Lab Manager
• Sample preparation and analysis via HPLC column chromatography
• Sterile sampling and plating for microbial testing
• Collection, organization, and reporting of data for analysis
• Maintaining inventory of created experimental material
• Maintaining the inventory list of all test equipment for calibration purposes
• Execution of lab scale downstream processing experiments including filtration and spray drying

Requirements:

• Candidate for Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, chemical engineering, or related field
• Ambitious, self-driven, and capable of adapting to changing roles and project priorities
• Ability to work independently and as a part of team
• Strong written and oral communication
• Previous experience working in a laboratory setting
• Familiarity with HPLC and other analytical equipment
• Strong data management and organizational skills
• Proficient with the use of Microsoft Office Products

Why Join Us?

Join the Revolution…
With an innovative and accomplished leadership team guiding our day-to-day wins, and a Board with a long-term vision that supports our efforts, we set out daily to improve the safety, efficacy and sustainability of crop protection through migration from synthetic pesticides to peptide-based biopesticides. Our team is empowered to solve problems and find solutions that will advance the science and commercialization of peptides. If you’re seeking a career that taps into your talents and contributes to harnessing the Power of Peptides® for the benefit of the environment and industry, we just may have a job for you. We know our employees are our most valuable asset, and our culture conveys that.

In 2019 we opened our headquarter in the heart of RTP (Research Triangle Park, NC), a global center of Agricultural Technology and Innovation. Our lab is located on Stirrup Creek Drive, near a vibrant work environment with restaurants, shops and hotels. Our R&D center is in Kalamazoo, MI, within the Western Michigan University Innovation Center. The 69,000-square-foot, purpose-built incubator and co-working space was created to support companies from the earliest start-ups to maturing organizations with office and conference space, high-quality shared scientific equipment and resources, and a wide range of support services.

We offer a competitive benefits package, to support the health and happiness of our staff. We invite you to apply to join a company developing the products, processes, and relationships to lead the advancement of the biological peptide industry, beginning with the pesticide markets.

An Equal Opportunity Employer
Vestaron is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Vestaron are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.