Bacteria Lab Assistant Internship

The Lab Assistant position is a part-time, seasonal opportunity with the Southwest Conservation District (SWCD), a 501(c3) environmental non-profit organization based in Hamden, Connecticut. Our organization is focused on providing technical assistance, project guidance and educational materials on natural resources conservation, water quality and soil health issues. Our clients are agricultural cooperators, private landowners, and municipalities across Southwestern Connecticut.  SWCD is currently hiring TWO individuals for these positions for the sampling season (April thru October).

The successful applicant(s) for this position will work in our lab space in Hamden to process water samples for both e.coli and enterococci bacteria levels. Additional work will occur in the field during site visits to collect water quality samples for analysis in the lab space. Additional tasks will entail data entry and report creation and updates. The sampling efforts will be in tandem with staff from SWCD to ensure sampling and safety protocols are followed. Training will be provided to the interns via SWCD staff at the initiation of the position.

Specific tasks will include:

• Participate in training sessions with SWCD staff at the lab and in field sampling trips

• Assist with processing water quality samples in the lab for bacteria analysis

• Attend sampling trips with staff to waterbodies in southcentral Connecticut to collect samples, use field meters and complete data sheets

• Assist with tracking inventory of consumables in the lab and preparing re-orders

• Assist partner organizations with learning how to utilize lab space with sterile technique

• Assist with recording of results in Microsoft xls and google sheets and online data entry

• Prepare updates to water quality report templates for distribution to partners

 

Expected Qualifications:

• Upper- level undergraduate student majoring in Sciences or graduate level student with Bachelor of Science

• Experience working in a lab setting, in particular, pipetting, sterile techniques and mixing reagents

• Ability to follow lab procedures to match QAPP protocols to generate useful water quality data

• An interest in water quality and learning more about protecting natural resources

Compensation:

• This is a part – time position with flexible hours that will be based on volume of samples to process

• Sampling season will run from May through September 2025

• A stipend will be available for the successful intern in the $8000 to $9500 range for the season ($20/ hour payment)

• Mileage for sampling trips may also be reimbursed