At Planet A Foods, we want to revolutionize the food industry to protect the planet we love. We believe that creating better food ingredients, done by perfecting centuries-old fermentation technology, leads to healthier alternatives for us all and can save up to 500 Mt of CO2 per year.

Our first product? Yummy chocolate! We created the world’s first 100% cocoa-free chocolate called ChoViva. Our ChoViva tastes amazing with a solid snap and smooth melt as well as roasty notes and a subtle sweetness. In addition it is completely natural, gluten-free, vegan and made with only seven ingredients. ChoViva doesn’t only deliver on taste and naturalness. It is also kind to the planet with a breathtaking low carbon and water footprint, plus a complete mitigation of deforestation and child slavery!

On our journey to protect our Planet A, we are looking for a motivated Strain Engineering Intern who supports us in improving our production organism. During this internship, you will work closely with our experienced research and development team to support strain engineering projects. You will have the opportunity to learn and apply cutting-edge molecular techniques to modify and enhance yeast strains for improved productivity and product quality.

Your tasks at Planet A Foods:

• Collaborate with our research team to optimize strain performance at the intersection of strain engineering and Upstream Processing (USP).

• Run cultivation experiments to assess different strain versions regarding growth and performance (productivity, yield and lipid composition)

• Perform genetic engineering experiments and characterize different engineered strains using various assays and analytical methods

• Collect, analyze and interpret experimental data, including presentation of results to the team.

• Maintain accurate laboratory records, prepare reports, and present findings to the team.

• Support in molecular cloning techniques, such as PCR, DNA purification, and plasmid assembly.

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or a related field. This position is specifically designed for mandatory internships as part of the applicant's current curriculum. The internship is expected to be pursued for a minimum duration of four months, in line with the academic requirements. Please note that we can only consider applicants who meet this mandatory internship criterion.

• Strong interest in strain engineering, synthetic biology, or genetic engineering.

• Experience with microbial cultivations is a must (sterile working, enzymatic/colorimetric/photometric assays, media and solution preparation).

• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques is very appreciated (PCR, molecular cloning methods, CRISPR).

• Attention to detail and ability to follow experimental protocols.

• Good analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative and enthusiastic research team.

• Proficiency in the English language, including written and verbal communication skills.

(Please note we are currently only looking for applicants that already have a work visa/permission to work in Germany, or of course, EU citizenship and we only hire interns that need to make a mandatory internship for university)

Planet A Foods is committed to pursuing our values throughout our business. 

In the realm of recruitment and hiring, this means that we are not only an Equal Opportunity Employer, but also proactive in embedding fairness and equity into an inclusive recruitment and hiring process:

• We value the knowledge, expertise, and skills that individuals bring based on their identities, life experiences, and backgrounds. We want people to bring their full selves to work and as a global company, we want to reflect the world. Our success relies on talented individuals who share our passion bringing innovation and insights that stem from their different perspectives to help us work as one team to accomplish ambitious global strategy goals. 

• Our recruitment is inclusive. We recruit top talent that reflect the diversity of the world and global marketplace we inhabit. We conduct deliberate and purposeful recruitment that brings applicants to Planet A Foods that represent a broad range of identities, life experiences, backgrounds, and skill sets.

• Our hiring process is transparent and consistent. We have high standards for ensuring a clear process is used consistently with every candidate. There are no side doors for bringing in people. We adhere to a hiring protocol that includes and recognizes differences rather than rule them out.

• We recognize that one of the dynamics of meaningful inclusion is seeing that all people can succeed in our workplace. We know representation matters and that our values are not something we simply talk about, it’s something we work toward. It’s something we do. Our values must show up in who works on the Planet A Foods team, at every level. 

Our values: 

Fellowship

We share a great vision that can only be achieved as a team. We prefer enabling others to succeed instead of petting our egos.

On Discovery

We keep our eyes, hearts, and minds open, curious to explore, improve and create new realities beyond the ordinary.

Creating impact

We aim at building a better world. Science is at our hearts, and full of passion we progress on our journey.

Just do it

We rather take a lousy first step than standing still or losing ourselves in discussions. Smart words are worth nothing if they are not accompanied by smart actions.

Our hierarchy is flat and communication direct, which means that we operate and learn fast, as a team. You can expect the following:

• Competitive salary within the industry (incl. stock options)

• Flexible working hours as we believe in ownership and trust

• Learning & Development Program for all our team members

• Regular team events

• Free Lunch drinks & snacks

• Remote work is possible, your “normal” place to work is our office/ lab (we believe in building a strong culture needs a place where we physically meet and interact) 

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. We consider all applications equally regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply.