Wetsus

Make it in the North; Leeuwarden; Hybrid; EUR 4,000 - 5,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend: 425 EUR/month

Guided supervision with regular meeti­

International research environment

Top-up option for Erasmus/financialaid

Job summary

Make it in the North at Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, offers a 4–6 month MSc internship starting February 2027. The role is based at Wetsus with hands-on bioreactor work, media preparation, and data analysis under supervision.

You will gain experience in anaerobic bioreactor operation, microbial community monitoring, and analytical techniques, in an international research setting with regular guidance and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Good verbal and written communication in English.
• Enrolled in Bioprocess/Process engineering or Microbiology program.
• Interest in bioprocess design and/or microbiology.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutrient media, assemble and sterilize bioreactors and set up equipment.
• Operate, monitor and maintain anaerobic chemostats under controlled conditions.
• Collect and process samples for biomass measurements and metabolite analysis.
• Record, organize and interpret experimental data.
• Analyze and present results according to scientific standards.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Bioprocess/Process engineering or Microbiology program

Job description

Type of project: MSc internshipDuration: 4-6 monthsStart date: February 2027Location: Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, theNetherlands

Application Deadline: December 3rd, 2026

Background:

The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health and influencing susceptibility to disease. Studying its physiological functions and ecological interactions through animal models and human cohort studies is often limited by ethical considerations, sampling constraints, and experimental variability. As an alternative, in vitro bioreactor systems offer a controlled environment to investigate microbial community dynamics and metabolic activity under conditions that mimic the human gastrointestinal tract. However, the reliability and reproducibility of these systems depend strongly on reactor design, operating conditions, and the establishment of stable microbial communities.

Research goal & approach:

The aim of this project is to develop and optimize an experimental protocol to (1) simulate the human proximal colon microbiome using continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) and (2) establish a stable microbial community before introducing experimental interventions. The project involves the preparation, assembly, sterilization, operation, and maintenance of anaerobic bioreactors under controlled conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on preparing nutrient media, maintaining anaerobic conditions, and ensuring consistent reactor performance during continuous operation. Microbial growth and biomass will be monitored using analytical and spectophotometric techniques, while microbial metabolic activity will be evaluated through short-chain fatty acid quantification and headspace gas analysis.

Your responsibilities:

• Prepare nutrient media, assemble and sterilize bioreactors, and set up associated equipment.
• Operate, monitor, and maintain anaerobic chemostats under controlled experimental conditions.
• Collect and process samples for biomass measurements, short-chain fatty acid quantification, and headspace gas analysis.
• Record, organize, and interpret experimental data.
• Analyze and present experimental results according to established scientific standards.

Our requirements:

• EU citizen or international student registered at a Dutch university
• Enrolled in Bioprocess/Process engineering, Microbiology program
• Overall interest in bioprocess design and/or microbiology
• Previous experience in anaerobic microbiology or bioreactor operation is a plus
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English
• Reliable, organized and able to work in large teams

Your benefits:

• Gain hands-on laboratory experience in operating anaerobic reactors and various molecular & analytical techniques
• Receive close guidance via weekly or biweekly meetings
• Experience the multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment at Wetsus
• Join a large pool of thesis/internship students in an international working environment
• Allowance of 425 EUR per month. Grant holding students (i.e. Erasmus or other) receiving financial support of less than 425 € per month can apply for a top-up supplement to the maximum allowance.