RESEACH INTERN

The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded research center led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our mission is to develop economically viable and environmentally sustainable technologies for advanced biofuels and bioproducts. The successful candidate will join the Experimental Fermentation Lab (EFL) under the mentorship of Dr. Kyle Probst. The EFL provides critical infrastructure for GLBRC research through the Feedstocks-to-Fuels (F2F) Pipeline, an integrated laboratory-scale process designed to deconstruct, hydrolyze, and ferment lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels. Degree and Specialization Required: B.S. in Microbiology, Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, Food Science, Data Science, or a related STEM field. At least one year of laboratory research experience involving microbial culturing, aseptic techniques, and standard biochemical assays. Experience with data analysis and scripting (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB, or JMP) is highly preferred. A foundational understanding of microbial physiology and fermentation kinetics. Demonstrated ability in scientific record-keeping, data visualization (Excel/GraphPad), and technical communication. The primary responsibilities of this research intern position are to support the F2F Pipeline by managing biomass pretreatment protocols and executing microbial fermentation assays. This role is designed as a pre-graduate internship, offering progressive training through an independent research project under the guidance of Dr. Probst and GLBRC co-investigators. Additional duties & training opportunities may include: Gain hands-on expertise with bench-scale bioreactors, including hardware/software interfacing, real-time sample collection, and industry-standard operational protocols. Perform technical workflows including aqueous ammonia pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and high-throughput fermentation. Acquire fundamental skills in recombinant DNA technology and microbial strain characterization. Contribute to the development of algorithms for processing real-time fermentation data, predictive modeling, and database architecture. Review, analyze, and interpret experimental data for internal reports, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations. Support operations including media preparation, reagent formulation, and equipment maintenance. Candidates must be self-motivated with the interpersonal skills required for a collaborative laboratory environment. The role requires meticulous time management and a flexible schedule to accommodate the demands of working with microorganisms (including occasional non-standard hours such as evenings and weekends). Application Instructions Please email a cover letter stating your interest in the position and current resume to Kyle Probst (View email address on click.appcast.io). #J-18808-Ljbffr Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center