Summer Intern - Downstream Protein Development

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, periodontitis and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance. 

WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:

*AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.

*LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.

*RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.

*MODEL EXCELLENCE:  The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

Vaxcyte’s Summer Internship program offers students with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience that complements their college curriculum with relevant hands-on work that can shape their future career pathing and interests. 

As a DSP Protein Development Intern for Vaxcyte, you will work on a project that has one very clear and definable goal of carrying out a short-term stability study.  Your project is outlined below:

Define the impact of different purification strategies on the activity of two proteins used in the Cell Free Protein Synthesis reaction.

- Successful determination of optimal purification approach will generate stable and active purified protein for internal analytical development work.

- Relevant work: Optimizing buffer conditions, run parameters, or storage conditions to increase purity, yield, and/or activity of the enzyme(s) (or tRNA??)

Determine the impact of storage temperature and freeze thaw cycles on the activity of two proteins used in the Cell Free Protein Synthesis reaction.

- Successful storage temperature determination will define conditions for maintaining highly active purified proteins.

- Relevant work: Stability testing of enzymes.  Freeze/thaw samples over time and assess how enzyme activity is affected. Test different storage temperatures (e.g. +4, -20, -40(?), -80) and see how activity is affected to define an optimal temperature for storing enzymes.

The project has one very clear and definable goal of carrying out a short-term stability study. This has a simple implementation and a clear analysis.  More detailed activities can involve the purification of these proteins (and maybe tRNA?) and how purification strategies affect or do not affect protein quality and activity.  This second part can be broken down into several smaller projects (e.g. exploring buffer components or exploring run parameters) allowing for a dynamic situation to allow as much or little time as needed by the intern to accomplish something measurable and presentable.

The Intern will have the opportunity to practice using ÄKTA, using lab equipment (e.g. pipettes, scales, pH meter, glassware), making buffers, interpreting chromatograms, running SDS-PAGE and associated analysis (e.g. purity analysis, titer, run quality, etc), spectrophotometry (e.g. NanoDrop or Cary-60), measuring enzyme activity, using plate reader (e.g. SpectraMax iD3), following protocols, preparing data, and presentation skills.

Program Details:

Internship will begin in June and will be 8-10 weeks (6-8 hours per day) in duration at our San Carlos, California location. 

• Must be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree (enrolled student with at least 1 year at university completed) with a focus on Biology or related subject.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strong attention to detail and work quality.
• Demonstrates collaboration and teamwork. 
• Enthusiastic - Shows curiosity and is eager to learn.
• Dedicated.

Reports to: Associate Scientist I, Protein Process Development & Manufacturing

Location: San Carlos, CA

Salary Range: The expected salary range for this position is $20-$23 per hour. Actual pay will be determined based on year of university/college completed.  The Summer Internship position will not be eligible for benefits and relocation and housing will not be offered.

Vaxcyte, Inc.

825 Industrial Road, Suite 300

San Carlos, CA 94070

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.