Chemical and Biological Branch Co-Op - Spring 2027 - ATAS

Georgia Tech Research Institute; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) offers a cooperative education program featuring alternating terms of full-time work and full-time study. A Co-op student will support the Chemical and Biological Branch within the ATAS Laboratory, engaging in microbiology, disinfection research, sensor design, and wastewater characterization.

Expect hands-on experiments, safety compliance, and documentation tasks. The role emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, with three co-op terms required before

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Biology, or Biomedical Engineering.
• 3.2+ GPA cumulative.
• Eligible to participate in co-op and register for co-op credit with university during work terms.
• Must complete at least three full-time co-op terms prior to graduation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct experiments and prepare samples and reagents.
• Collect and analyze data and maintain lab equipment and inventory.
• Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards and assist with documentation and reporting.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary research projects to drive progress.

Skills

Wet chemistry techniques

Lab safety

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Biology, or Biomedical Engineering

Job description

Overview:

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Job Description

GTRI’s Cooperative Education (“co-op”) program offers you extensive opportunities to participate in diverse scientific and technological endeavors, use state-of-the-art equipment and rapidly improve your technical and leadership skills. The program allows you to alternate three semesters of full-time work at GTRI with semesters of full-time school.

The Chemical and Biological Branch within the Aerospace, Transportation, and Advanced Systems (ATAS) Laboratory is seeking a Co-op student starting Spring 2027 to support a range of research initiatives including(a) food safety and microbiology, (b) the development and evaluation of disinfection methods, (c) sensor design for chemical and biological detection, and (d) characterization of wastewater from poultry production sources. Core responsibilities include conducting experiments, preparing samples and reagents, collecting and analyzing data, and maintaining laboratory equipment and inventory. The lab assistant will also play a key role in ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards, as well as assisting with documentation, reporting, and collaborative efforts to drive progress across multidisciplinary research projects.

Required Minimum Qualification

Co-op

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree inChemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Biology, or Biomedical Engineering
• 3.2 or higher cumulative GPA
• Must be eligible to be approved by your college/university to participate in a co-op program and register for co-op credit with your university during work terms
• Must be able to complete at least three full-time co-op terms (alternating three terms of full-time work at GTRI with semesters of full-time school) prior to graduation

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in wet chemistry techniques
• Knowledge of lab safety
• Analytical and critical thinking skills, accountability, strategic thinking and planning, software development, debugging, working in teams, attention to detail, customer service focused
• Strong technical skills and ability to learn complex engineering concepts
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas

Hours per Week

40 hours per week

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Not Applicable

Clearance Type Required

None

Housing and Relocation

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.
USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.