Intern - Biology or related - Discovery and Technology

Internship Opportunity in Discovery and Technology (D&T)

About the Internship

We are looking for a motivated third-year or fourth-year BSc or MSc student in life sciences, biochemistry, or biotechnology, preferably with at least one prior internship experience.

Do you want to know what it's like to be part of one of the largest multinational companies in the pharmaceutical industry? We offer an internship opportunity within our Discovery and Technology (D&T) department where you will have the freedom and space for your own initiative.

Welcome to our team

The Discovery and Technology (D&T) department is an essential hub in our organization. This department conducts proof-of-concept research into novel vaccine technologies and therapies and plays a key role in interacting with the R&D community to identify and evaluate potential new leads relevant to Animal Health. The D&T organization consists of cross-linked teams responsible for development research and early development of vaccines and therapies against viral, bacterial, and parasitological diseases. Within the multidisciplinary teams, specialists in the fields of virology, bacteriology, antigen discovery, vaccine formulation, molecular biology, immunology, assay development, and cell biology work together.

Your internship assignment:

During this internship, you will contribute to the optimization and development of immunological in vitro assay protocols using the Octet Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) platform. This 8-channel, label-free, real-time system enables precise binding kinetics and affinity analysis, supporting assay development across various biomolecular interactions including antibodies, recombinant proteins, nucleic acids, and virus-like particles.

Your responsibilities

• Investigate published data and protocols relevant to Octet BLI to guide the development of robust experimental workflows.
• Immobilize ligands such as antibodies, proteins, DNA/RNA, and antigens on biosensors and conduct BLI experiments to study binding kinetics, stability, and specificity.
• Evaluate parameters influencing assay performance, including buffer composition (for ELISA and AlphaLISA), adjuvant effects, and antigen source variation (e.g., expression systems like APx vs. baculovirus-derived).
• Develop and refine multi-step (sequential) assay formats aimed at improving sensitivity and specificity. Analyze how antibody conjugation affects binding affinity and kinetics.
• Share your insights and propose new approaches to enhance assay design and platform utility within the research team. Your perspective as an intern is valued and encouraged.

The above-mentioned responsibilities are an indication of what you will be doing after proper onboarding and initial learning and development. This provides you with the opportunity to learn and hereafter perform tasks independently. In consultation with your supervisor, you could take on additional tasks and responsibilities.

We are looking for:

• A last year BSc or a MSc student in a biology related field.
• You are familiar with molecular biology techniques.
• You are enthusiastic about finding creative solutions to real biological problems.
• You are searching for an internship where you have the freedom to take initiative.
• You are fluent in English.
• You are available for 5 days a week for a period of 4 to 6 months.

What we offer:

• A broad-based internship, which allows you to get acquainted with many aspects of the field and there to gain experience, with enough room for own initiative.
• A challenging and dynamic learning environment with a lot of space for personal development.
• A challenging and dynamic work environment with lots of space to develop yourself.
• Professional guidance by an experienced specialist.
• A placement fee of € 500,- gross per month (based on a 40-hour week).

About Animal Health

Our Animal Health Division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive difference in animal care and the world’s food supply and have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society, and our planet.

Through our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we offer veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. We are present in more than 50 countries, while our products are available in some 150 markets.

Required Skills: Analytical Problem Solving, Animal Handling, Assay Development, Biolayer Interferometry, Biotechnology, Cell-Based Assays, Clinical Research, Communication, Data Analytics, Database Management, Data Entry, Data Visualization, Document Management, Global Supply Chain, Health Economics, Immunoassays, In Vitro Assays, Management Process, Medical Virology, Molecular Biology, Office Applications, Personal Development, Process Improvements, Project Management