Job Title: Intern, Genomics

Reporting to: Sr. Manager, Genomics

Location: Durham, North Carolina

About Pairwise:

Pairwise is a mission-driven, food+tech company dedicated to building a healthier world through better fruits and vegetables. Pairwise was founded in 2017 by scientists at Harvard University, MIT, and Broad Institute who are eminent in the field of gene editing, as well as biotechnology industry pioneers. Our team is tuned in to consumer food trends, and we believe that consumers deserve more variety and innovation in their fresh food choices. We are primed to deliver that innovation through one of the best gene-editing platforms in food and agriculture. Pairwise has an exclusive 5-year research collaboration with Bayer to develop products in corn, soybean, wheat, canola, and cotton. Plus, Pairwise is developing new types of consumer crops including berries and stone fruit. Pairwise is based in the start-up friendly Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina.

About This Role:

We are seeking passionate, engaging, ready-to-learn interns to join us for Summer 2024. We are looking for interns with majors in: Biology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Statistics, Plant Science, Botany, Computational Biology. Pairwise offers the opportunity of getting to work with industry leading scientists and professionals in a cutting edge, industry changing, food+tech company. Our interns will be integrated with our teams here at Pairwise to allow for hands on learning in a fast-paced start-up environment. Interns will also have season long cap-stone projects that will add real value and help the team resolve real-world challenges they are currently facing. We like to have fun at Pairwise, so the summer won’t be all work and no play! Pairwise interns will not only have “Intern Only” meeting sessions to talk about their experience and share thoughts and feedback with each other, but will also have events to help with career and educational planning, and team building trips to share in the fun of summer in North Carolina.

Essential Functions:

1. Genome Assembly: 

• Work closely with the genomics team to assemble a high-quality genome of a plant crop species. 
• Utilize computational tools for genome sequencing and assembly. 
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of the assembled genome. 
• Troubleshoot any issues that arise during the process. 

Genome Annotation: 

• Annotate genes, regulatory elements, and other functional elements within the assembled genome. 
• Identify protein-coding genes, non-coding RNAs, and repetitive sequences. 
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians to predict gene functions and analyze genomic features. 

Data Management:

• Organize and manage genomic data generated during the assembly and annotation process. 
• Maintain detailed records and documentation. 

Collaboration: 

• Work closely with other team members, including bioinformaticians, team lead, and project lead. 
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to project discussions. 

Learning and Development: 

• Gain hands-on experience in genomics research and analysis. 
• Learn about the specific plant crop species and its genomic characteristics. 

Required Education & Experience:

• A student currently enrolled in a Bachelors, Masters or PhD program in one of the following disciplines:
• Biology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Statistics, Plant Science, Botany, Computational Biology.
• Enthusiasm for genomics research and crop improvement. 
• Basic understanding of molecular biology and genetics. 
• Familiarity with command-line bioinformatics tools.
• Experience with script and code writing for computational biology (eg. bash, python, R). 
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

Offerings:

• Paid internship experience in a field relevant to your studies!
• Real-world, industry work experience.
• Casual work environment.
• Mission-driven organization focused on creating healthier fruits and veggies.
• A cutting-edge, driven community looking to lead the industry in innovation and nutrition.

EEO Statement:
We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Pairwise we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.