Automation Scientist Intern, RAC Operations

Ginkgobioworks; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 37,700 - 53,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Ginkgo Bioworks in Boston, MA is seeking an Automation Scientist Intern to work hands-on with cutting-edge lab automation technology. You will operate Reconfigurable Automation Cells and support scientific workflows, gaining valuable experience in the field.

This internship offers a base salary of $37,700-$53,500, depending on skills and experience, alongside comprehensive benefits including medical coverage, paid time off, and more.

Qualifications

• No college degree necessary, but skills in coding and biology or computational biology required.
• Interest in lab automation and robotics.
• Willingness to ensure scientific workflows run successfully.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain the Reconfigurable Automation Cells.
• Prepare reagents and consumables for scientific workflows.
• Conduct error recovery for protocol runs.

Skills

Coding skills

Biology knowledge

Automation mindset

Job description

About the Role

Ginkgo Bioworks is deploying a massive fleet of Reconfigurable Automation Cells (RACs) – modular, mobile robotic units that snap together like LEGOs to form an autonomous lab. We are looking for an Automation Scientist Intern to be the hands‑on force behind this fleet. You will learn how to load, operate, take down, and troubleshoot protocol runs on the most advanced lab automation hardware in the world, pushing our "Nebula" frontier lab towards autonomous operation.

The role is based out of Ginkgo's Boston, MA location and requires regular in-person attendance.

Responsibilities

• Master the RAC Platform: Learn to operate and maintain a system of Reconfigurable Automation Cells, designed to support a variety of molecular and cell biology scientific workflows. You will queue and submit programmatically-generated protocols, remote monitor for errors and conduct remote and on-site error recovery, with the support of our Apex Support team. Over time, you will advance to modifying or writing new protocols for our RAC Automation system.
• Learn Biology: You will prepare and onboard reagents and consumables for upcoming molecular and cell biology scientific workflows, execute and monitor such workflows, and take down and offboard used plates from completed workflows. In the process, you will learn how to carefully handle and prepare reagents and consumables for workflows, do basic monitoring and error recovery of runs and safely dispose of used plates from completed workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• No college degree necessary but some skills in coding, biology or computational biology required.
• Automation-forward mindset: you love working with lab automation and making robotic systems run smoother.
• Willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that existing and new scientific workflows run successfully on our RAC automation system.

Bonus (not required)

• Interest in communications, marketing, social media, and/or short form video.

Compensation & Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $37,700-$53,500. Actual pay within this range will depend on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, 8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.

It is expected that all Internships are onsite five days a week.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.