IVF Research Intern

The IVF Research Intern supports a defined component of an active research project within the R&D pipeline. The internship is designed to produce a meaningful project deliverable while providing practical experience in experimental design laboratory execution data analysis documentation and communication within a private-sector research environment.

Based in Sioux Center Iowa the intern will work with R&D scientists and laboratory staff on basic and/or applied research related to reproductive biology cell biology embryology or vitro fertilization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research Project Execution

• Contribute to a defined component of an active IVF research project aligned with R&D pipeline priorities.
• Assist with planning and executing controlled laboratory experiments under approved protocols and appropriate supervision.
• Support troubleshooting and comparison of experimental treatments protocols reagents or process conditions as appropriate for the assigned study.
• Participate in routine project meetings communicate progress and risks and incorporate feedback from scientists and laboratory personnel.

Laboratory Operations and Experimental Procedures

• Perform project-specific laboratory activities that may include media preparation sample handling aseptic technique microscopy cell or embryo observations and biological assays.
• Follow established safety quality biosecurity animal welfare confidentiality and data integrity requirements applicable to assigned work.

Data Collection Analysis and Documentation

• Collect organize quality-control and maintain complete experimental data and laboratory records.
• Apply basic statistical and graphical methods to summarize results and identify patterns variability or potential technical issues.
• Document methods materials deviations observations analytical decisions limitations and results to ensure experiments can be reproduced and continued by the R&D team.

Scientific Research and Knowledge Development

• Review relevant scientific literature and summarize information needed to support project hypotheses experimental methods and interpretation of results.

Reporting and Communication

• Prepare and deliver a final technical report and presentation summarizing project objectives methods results limitations conclusions and recommended next steps.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Currently enrolled in a bachelors or masters degree program in reproductive biology animal science cell biology embryology biotechnology biology or a closely related field; masters-level candidates are preferred.

• Foundational understanding of cell biology reproductive physiology embryology or laboratory-based biological research.

• Prior hands-on laboratory experience through coursework undergraduate research employment or graduate study.

• Ability to follow detailed protocols perform careful measurements and work consistently with biological materials.

• Experience with one or more relevant methods such as aseptic technique microscopy cell culture gamete or embryo handling molecular assays biochemical assays or image analysis is preferred.

• Basic knowledge of experimental design and ability to organize summarize and interpret scientific data.

• Experience using spreadsheet statistical or scientific software for data entry visualization or analysis is preferred.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate timely and traceable laboratory documentation.

• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while seeking guidance when procedures results or priorities are unclear.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate with scientists laboratory technicians and cross-functional partners.

• Ability to work on-site in Sioux Center Iowa and meet the physical and scheduling requirements of a laboratory-based internship.

DELIVERABLES

• A documented reproducible genetic-evaluation workflow for the assigned trait or traits.

• A completed and documented project workstream that addresses the agreed research question or technical objective.

• Accurate experimental records organized datasets quality-control summaries and supporting files suitable for internal review and future use.

• A concise analysis of results including interpretation limitations and recommended follow-up experiments or implementation steps.

• A final technical report presentation and organized handoff of protocols data analyses and supporting documentation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit stand walk reach with hands or arms lift files and operate a computer.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and ability to adjust to focus.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers phones copy machines filing cabinets and fax machines.

On-site internship in Sioux Center Iowa with regular collaboration across the IVF R&D and laboratory teams. Day-to-day supervision and technical coaching will be provided by an R&D scientist or designated project lead. The intern must comply with site safety laboratory confidentiality data-integrity and animal-care requirements applicable to assigned activities.

Applications will close on November 6th 2026.