Bioprocessing & Plant Science Intern (COVE Internship Program)

Bioprocessing & Plant Science Intern

COVE

Dartmouth NS

Host Company:

PhyCo Technologies Inc.

335 Kings Road

Sydney NS

B1S 1B3

Who is COVE

COVE is a tech hub and commercialization partner home to more than 400 organizations that use its facilitiesservicesand programs.COVE brings together industry academia and government to accelerate marine technology development and commercialization - from seabed to space - ensuring resilient supply chains built with Canadian solutions. Through its vast international network COVE has been at the forefront of providing invaluable networking opportunities fostering connections and leading discussions within the global marine technology community.

COVE spearheads programs aimed at nurturing talentexpeditingthe release of technology products and bolstering the success of emerging ventures by startups scaleups and SMEs. These initiatives coupled with COVEs ability to harness diverse skills andexpertisenationally within the innovation ecosystem serve as an enabler for overcoming industry challenges driving economic growth and delivering value to investors.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion we are activelyseekingto expand our team to further bolster our transformational influence on the marine sector. We recognize that our journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of our team-a group of individuals who collaborate innovate and continually strive for excellence. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

What is the COVE Internship Program

We are looking for bright talented individuals at the post-secondary level interested in the marine sector who are looking to gain valuable hands-on work experience. You will be placed with a host company in the marine sector and will be working on a core project for their business. Projects areinterdisciplinaryand students will be collaborating closely with other students and staff from different disciplines.

The COVE internship is a collaboration withnumerouscompanies that are leaders in the marine and marine technologysector. We are diligent in placing students in a role with a company that is well aligned with their discipline of study skillset and future career ambitions. Canadas marine sector is growing and thriving and contributes millions of dollars to our national economy on an annual basis. COVE is seeking interns who are Canadas best and brightest to be part of this phenomenal growth.

• Internship Eligibility:

• • Open to post-secondary students across all disciplines (i.e.Environmental Sciences Statistics Engineering Computer Science Business Marketing and Communications etc.)

• • Students must be actively enrolled in a post-secondary program at the time of the summer internship

• • Based on the required skillsets placements are typically geared towards second-year undergraduate students and above

• • Collaborative self-starter

• • Open to learning

• • Have experience or an interest in the marine sector

• • International students must be eligible to work in Canada and have a valid study/work permit

• Program Highlights:

• • 16-week full-time paid (min. $22/hr) employment from May-August 2026

• • Project-based learning opportunity with a host company in Nova Scotia

• • Professional development sessions

• • Mentorship from industry professionals

• • Networking opportunities

The Opportunity:

PhyCo is a B2B biomaterials company tackling plastic pollution in agriculture by developing earth-digestible seaweed-based biomaterials through a proprietary biorefinery process. Our products are targeted to agriculture to help farmers save money on their operational costs while minimizing environmental impact.

We are a female-led science-driven team working at the intersection of ocean innovation sustainable materials and climate solutions. We are looking for interns who are curious motivated and passionate about solving complex real-world problems through innovative science and applied research. We value diverse perspectives collaborative work and learning through experimentation. Interns will be encouraged to ask questions contribute ideas and take ownership of meaningful technical work in a fast-growing startup environment. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

What you will be doing:

You will focus on optimizing bioprocessing workflows for multiple biological feedstocks including seaweed-derived materials to improve process efficiency and consistency. The role may also include plant-based assay testing to evaluate biological interactions and performance.

Key Deliverables

• Assist with bioprocessing optimization across multiple feedstocks at both lab and pilot-production scales.
• Support process efficiency improvements of biorefinery by testing and documenting changes during pilot runs.
• Collect analyze and summarize process performance data from internal pilots and early-adopter field trials.
• Support execution of plant assay testing related to pilot materials including setup monitoring and data capture.
• Prepare a comparative technical summary highlighting outcomes from lab pilot and early-adopter testing.
  
• Contribute to process documentation and scale-up learnings to support future commercialization.
  

What you will bring:

• Currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in Bioprocess Engineering Plant Science Biology Agricultural Science Biotechnology or a related field.
• Foundational knowledge of biological systems plant science or bioprocessing principles.
• Prior laboratory or experimental experience (academic or applied) including sample preparation and data recording.
• Comfort following experimental protocols and adapting to iterative testing environments.
• Basic experience with data organization and analysis (e.g. spreadsheets lab notebooks).
• Interest in process optimization sustainability and applied biological testing.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to communicate results clearly to technical and non-technical team members.
  

Additional Assets:

• Experience with bioprocess optimization or scale-up concepts.
• Prior exposure to plant assays greenhouse trials or agricultural testing.
• Familiarity with wet lab techniques and biological sample handling.
• Experience documenting or improving process workflows or SOPs.
• Interest in nature-based solutions sustainable agriculture or climate technology.
  

Access to a vehicle or mode of transport is not required but should be considered as work will be conducted at the Verschuren Center in Nova Scotia.

COVE is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the marine sector including women IndigenousPeoplesindividuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds and other equity-deserving groups.

To submitan application click Apply.The deadline for submission is 11:59 pm ADTMondayFebruary 11th 2026. We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Required Experience:

Junior IC