Internship contract – 3 to 6 months | Fulltime/40h | From 01.03.2025 on | Belval

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

https://www.list.lu/

Plant cell suspension cultures offer a sustainable and efficient alternative for producing high-value molecules, particularly specialized compounds that are in high demand across industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food. Unlike traditional methods that rely on the overharvesting of wild plants—limited by seasonal availability and geographic constraints—plant cell cultures can be grown year- round under controlled conditions. With the growing consumer demand for natural products, plant cell suspension cultures provide a scalable solution to meet this need. To enhance production yields, elicitation strategies, involving biotic or abiotic stressors, are employed to stimulate the production of secondary metabolites, boosting the yield of these valuable molecules.

How will you contribute?

During this internship, you will be a part of the PMF, conducting experiments focused on the elicitation of plant cell suspension cultures. You will work with various elicitors and plant cell cultures, selected based on the progression of current projects. The effects of elicitation will be evaluated by monitoring biomass yield and the biological activity of extracts from the cultures. Targeted metabolite profiling using UHPLC will be utilized to identify changes in specific molecules. If positive effects are observed, the cell cultures will be upscaled using laboratory-scale bioreactors, and the molecular mechanisms behind the enhanced production will be explored using qRT-PCR analysis. Throughout the internship, you will receive comprehensive training in cell culture techniques, biochemistry, and molecular biology, with support from your supervisor (Dr. Xuan Xu), the PMF team, and the analytical platform

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

Education

·         Master student (M2) in biology, molecular biology, bioprocess, biotechnology, biochemistry or related fields

Experience and skills

·         Previous experience with any of the approaches used is an asset

Language skills

·         Good level both written and spoken English

Your LIST benefits

An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects;

Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society;

Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations such as our Viswall, high-scale incubators and top of the range 3D/4D printings that are part of our toolkit for excelling in all we do;

Multicultural and international work environment with more than 45 nationalities represented in our workforce; 

Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions;

Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science;

32 days’ paid annual leave for a full time internship, 11 public holidays per annum, flexible working hours,

An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas.

Apply online

https://www.list.lu/en/jobs/interns/

Your application must include a motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience

Application procedure and conditions:

We kindly request applicants to provide their nationality for statistical purposes only, as part of our commitment to promoting diversity and ensuring equal opportunities in our workforce. This information will be kept confidential and will not be used for any discriminatory purposes.

LIST is dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. All applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on national origin, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age, or disability.

Applications will be continuously reviewed until the position is filled. An assessment committee will thoroughly evaluate applications, adhering to guidelines designed to ensure equal opportunities. The primary criteria for selection will be the alignment of the applicant's existing skills and expertise with the requirements mentioned above.