AI Software Engineer Intern

Cultivarium is a Focused Research Organization (FRO) with a mission to accelerate the adoption of novel microorganisms for biotechnology. We are looking for someone who can contribute both individually and as part of a team to create tangible solutions for a ‘moonshot’ project. You will be part of a close-knit, driven team of scientists and engineers that are building technological infrastructure for the cultivation of non-model microorganisms, to open new avenues for science, technology, medicine, and agriculture.
We are seeking an AI Software Engineer Intern to help automate lab workflows using large language models (LLM) to translate scientific language into machine level instructions, with the goal of enhancing the productivity of our lab scientists. This position offers a hands-on opportunity for a student to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and software engineering skills in a dynamic biotech environment. The length of the internship is 3 months with the possibility of extension.
You will create an impact by leveraging your software development, AI, and problem-solving skills to streamline complex scientific workflows. Your focus will be on interpreting and transforming scientific language into structured, automated processes that empower lab scientists to conduct experiments more efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Create and refine systems for interpreting natural language instructions for use in automated laboratory workflows.
• Work closely with other scientists and engineers to architect and build software to facilitate lab automation.
• Write clean, maintainable, and testable code, following best practices.
• Summarize and present your work to supervisor and team members.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, computational biology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, or data science.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• Strong Python skills and familiarity with APIs; ability to quickly learn and adapt to new libraries and frameworks.
• Interest in LLMs and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) (e.g., Hugging Face, LangChain, OpenAI’s API, Claude.ai).
• Proficiency with UNIX command-line tools.
• Ability to effectively translate technical requirements into actionable software specifications.
• Creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• A team player that is able to effectively communicate with experts outside of your field.

Advanced Qualifications

• Familiarity with cloud environments such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.

We aim to help fill a structural gap in today's R&D system. We enable fundamental research that requires unusual levels of scale and coordination yet is not rapidly monetizable by industry. We’re bringing together top talent from academia, industry, and startups to build a new model for innovative R&D. We identify high-impact scientific or technical research and development opportunities, ultimately defining and launching these projects as Focused Research Organizations.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal law or company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.