Materials ScienceChemical Engineering Intern (COVE Internship Program)

Materials Science/Chemical Engineering 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 support the development of seaweed-based biomaterials by working hands-on with seaweed biomass processing and material extrusion. The project focuses on translating raw marine biomass into functional biopolymer materials suitable for agricultural applications.

Key Deliverables

• Support processing and preparation of seaweed biomass for both lab-scale and production-scale pilot runs.
• Assist with material extrusion during pilot production including monitoring parameters and recording outputs.
• Collect and organize process and material performance data from pilot runs and early-adopter trials.
• Conduct and document material characterization and quality assessments on pilot-produced materials.
• Contribute to technical summaries comparing lab-scale vs. pilot-scale results and identifying optimization opportunities.
  
• Maintain clear lab and pilot documentation including updates to SOPs as processes evolve.
  

What you will bring:

• Currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in Materials Science Chemical Engineering Polymer Science or a related field.
• Foundational knowledge of materials processing polymers or chemical engineering principles.
• Prior laboratory experience (academic or co-op) including following SOPs and maintaining lab notebooks.
• Familiarity with data collection basic analysis and technical documentation.
• Comfort working in a hands-on lab or pilot-scale production environment.
• Strong attention to detail organization and safety awareness.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with a multidisciplinary R&D team.
  

Additional Assets:

• Exposure to polymer extrusion compounding or materials processing equipment.
• Experience with materials characterization techniques (e.g. tensile testing microscopy spectroscopy).
• Familiarity with data analysis tools (Excel Google Sheets Python or similar).
• Experience working in pilot-scale or manufacturing-adjacent environments.
• Interest in bioplastics biomaterials or circular economy applications
  

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