Undergraduate Student Research Lab Intern

University of Maryland, United States

Updated: 2 months ago
Location: College Park, MARYLAND
Deadline: ;

Posting Details
Posting Details


Position Number: TBD
Title: Undergraduate Student Research Lab Intern
Functional Title: Undergraduate Student Research Lab Intern
Category Status: 14-Student Hourly, UG
Applicant Search Category: Student
University Authorized FTE: 50
Unit: AGNR-Dean-Joint Inst for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
Hiring Range Minimum:
Hiring Range Maximum:
Campus/College Information:
Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.
Background Checks
Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.
Vaccine Protocol
Position Summary/Purpose of Position:
The University of Maryland’s Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) is seeking an undergraduate student to provide experimental support to JIFSAN’s microbiology lab beginning Spring semester of 2024. The incumbent will have a unique opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the microbiology labs at JIFSAN and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on bacterial genomic projects. As a JIFSAN intern, this student may seek to earn credit for off-campus research.
This position contributes to the collaborative research programs between JIFSAN and the FDA by assisting with experiments in a controlled lab setting (BSL-2). The core responsibilities of this position include carrying out both culture-based and molecular biology experiments and performing established lab procedures. The incumbent should be able to work 10-15 hours per week, depending on lab needs and the incumbent’s schedule. It is expected that the incumbent will provide support during core lab hours which are generally the hours of 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. With good performance and availability of funding, the incumbent may have the opportunity to work in subsequent academic semesters beyond the initial appointment.
This position is available for the University of Maryland’s undergraduate students only—this is not a graduate assistantship nor an hourly graduate student position.
Responsibilities:

  • Under the general direction and in consultation with the supervisor, the incumbent is responsible for assisting with projects related to the use of next-generation sequencing technologies to improve food safety.
  • The incumbent will be involved with inter-lab collaboration between the FDA’s sequencing facility and the microbiology lab at JIFSAN.
  • The core responsibilities of this position include helping carry out ongoing experiments that include culturing bacteria, DNA extraction, library preparation, and whole-genome sequencing.
  • This role typically works under immediate supervision. The incumbent will be supervised day-to-day by the supervisor and will also work closely with FDA scientists.
  • Other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
This position is only open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in Biology, Microbiology, Food Science, or other closely related majors at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to manage a scheduled timeline while multi-tasking in an organized fashion in a fast-paced environment.
Preferences:
  • Experience in conducting experiments in a BSL-2 setting.
  • Experience with bacterial cultures and molecular biology experiments (e.g. DNA extraction and PCR).
  • Experience operating liquid-handling robots or with other lab automation.
Additional Certifications:
Additional Information:
This position requires incumbents to pass a background check that is predicated upon residency in the U.S. for three full years (a total of 36 months) during the last five years in order to gain access to U.S. FDA facilities.
To Apply
Applicants are asked to upload a CV, brief cover letter, unofficial transcript, and Spring 2024 class schedule. Questions may be directed to [email protected] . The position will pay $16 per hour. Students may seek credit for off-campus research.
Posting Date: 10/18/2023
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled Yes
Best Consideration Date 10/19/2023
Physical Demands
Diversity Statement:
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Women, minorities, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
^Student Posting Contact Information:
Questions may be directed to [email protected] .

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