Plant Expression Research Internship
Genective is seeking an individual for a 3 to 5 month paid research internship at the Champaign, IL research facility in the University of Illinois Research Park. The internship can start in Spring 2019 part-time and move to full time during the summer months. During the internship program, the intern will be exposed to industry leading research in the development of plant protection products.
The intern will manage one or more research projects during the internship but will also be given opportunities to experience various steps throughout the research process. Those activities could include assisting with work done in the laboratory, greenhouse, field and insect rearing facilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
With the supervision of the Genective staff, the intern’s project will contribute to the overall research goals for Genective. This internship will utilize transient expression to evaluate protein extraction purification and analyses. Plate-based scanning will be utilized to develop metrics to score bioassay plates in a high throughput and precise manner. Additionally, there will be opportunity to become familiar with lepidopteran insect rearing and evaluate various methods of diet-based rearing.
- Utilize a transient expression system to express genes in plants, N. benthamiana
- Image analysis for high throughput analysis of feeding damage and protein expression to create a correlation between visual damage scoring, automated scoring and protein expression
- Evaluate diet-based insect overlay assays
- Measure fecundity (egg laying potential) in an insect rearing system concentrating on different adult population concentrations of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)
- Comparison of different diet sources on larval fitness of fall armyworm under rearing conditions
Duties and responsibilities may be revised as needed by the station’s staff.
EDUCATIONAL AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
Internship is open to college freshmen (who have completed at least one semester), sophomores, juniors, seniors and grad students who have a strong interest in Biological Systems Engineering, Engineering, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, or Database Management; majoring in a related field with a link to Agriculture. Students must be in good standing with their class requirements.
- Computer skills:
- Image analysis, familiarity with biological measurements through instrumentation, management of information systems, data capture devices, databases, spread sheets, etc.
- Productive working independently or as part of a team
- Highest level of confidentiality, professionalism and respect for co-workers
- Superior communication and organizational skills with an eye for details
- Must be able to work a minimum of 20 hours a week if also attending classes, then 40 hours during the summer
Facility hours are typically 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Work required hours in office
Transportation to the Genective site in Champaign, IL is required and will be the responsibility of the student.