PROLIFIC MACHINES

About the start-up

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biomanufacturing. Our proprietary platform enables unparalleled control over any cell function in any cell type, with wide-ranging applications across food and pharmaceuticals. We are excited for mission-driven, talented, and kind people to help us create a brighter tomorrow with biology. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Mayfield.

For more information visit Proflific Machines.

Project Title

Biomanufacturing Systems Hardware Test and Development

Project summary

Student projects within the Prolific Machines Engineering team address challenges and opportunities that significantly enhance our products and R&D efforts. The candidate dedicate most of their time to a specific project but also contribute to various other engineering tasks, such as troubleshooting, data analysis, assembly, and testing support. Through these activities, interns gain valuable experience working within an engineering team, participating in weekly meetings, presentations, team sprints, and more.

RESponsibility

The proposed project spans two key areas that reflect our company’s work at the intersection of biology and device engineering. It involves testing the electronics of our illumination systems to ensure functionality and quantifying their performance. Concurrently, the response of the materials that these systems illuminate must be evaluated, requiring a comprehensive characterization of the optical properties of cells, media, and other materials within our devices. Depending on the candidates’ skills and interests, there are also opportunities to write Python scripts for firmware testing and to set up new equipment (including developing standard operating procedures) for measuring cell fluorescence and manufacturing both hardware components and electronics.

About the candidate

Our ideal candidate would have the following qualifications:

• Pursuing a Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Optical Engineering.

• Good hands on technical skills with experience in rapid prototyping
  (3D printing, laser cutting, use of hand tools, etc.)

• Possesses an aptitude for problem solving and can design experiments/fixtures to troubleshoot electrical systems on PCBs

• Familiarity with optical analysis of materials and optical fixturing

• Experience with basic lab bench liquid handling (pipetting, best practices)

• Programming experience in at least one of the following: Python or Matlab

This description likely contains skills you already have as well as skills you would learn in the role. If you think you would do a great job at this role then you should apply regardless of whether you fit all the above criteria.