Closing Date: 15 October 2021
Location: Isipingo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Salary: R 6,500.00 – 7,500.00 Monthly

Duration: 12 Months

Introduction

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) is an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and offers financial and non-financial means to support the development of new technologies and innovations, thereby stimulating economic growth in the country. It provides key resources to enable the translation of research and development to commercial prospects. The Bioprocessing Platform is a non-financial instrument of TIA and offers technical and infrastructural support to innovators and entrepreneurs to enable technology development. The Platform provides holistic support to the Bio-economy by offering a unique combination of technological capabilities encompassing diagnostics, analytical services and bioprocessing within a single facility. Further to the core focus of bioproduct development, the platform encompasses a COVID-19 and other infectious diseases diagnostics facility which aims to both provide relief to the national burden of COVID-19 testing and increase access to such diagnostics services at alleviated costs, thereby driving decreased morbidity rates in the region and nationally. The facility will thus provide successful candidates with robust experience within infectious disease diagnostics.

Specification

001: General microbiological techniques; scaling up cultivation of microbial cells from flasks to bioreactors. Troubleshooting bioreactor challenges and exposure to product and process bio-development Bioreactor experience /  fermentation technologies, downstream bioprocessing, microbiology.
002: DNA extraction, Real-time PCR, experience with working in a pathology laboratory for infectious diseases. Registration with HPCSA is advantageous but not a requirement. Mammalian cell culture; Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; protein purification; protein biochemistry. Trouble shooting or optimization of PCR assays.
003: Routine chemical analysis work, carry out research projects as per customer requirements, Maintain SANAS ISO 17025 accreditation, maintain chemical inventory database and stock taking, general housekeeping.

Requirements

South African unemployed youth, graduates and postgraduates in the following categories / streams are eligible to apply:

  • 001: National Diploma / Degree or BTech / Honours in Biotechnology, Microbiology or Biochemistry.
  • 002: Degree or BTech / Honours in Medical Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical Sciences, Microbiology or Biochemistry
  • 003: BTech / Honours in Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry

Interns will be expected to provide critical technical support to projects that are supported by the Platform that aim to develop commercially viable products for the advancement of the Bio-economy. The internship process would therefore offer an opportunity for the transfer of critical scarce skills to the interns, while providing exposure to bioprocess development, proof of concept stages up to technology demonstration.

Reporting to the Line Manager / designated Mentor, the intern’s duties will entail, amongst others: assist and support research objectives; provide project management / administration support; support laboratory operations and ensure good housekeeping of facilities.

An agile team member; good written and verbal communication skills; a team builder. Must be adaptable and willing to work shifts.

How to Apply

Apply Online for the TIA Graduate / Internship Programme