Vectech is hiring a Vector Biologist Intern for Fall 2024, with flexible start and end dates. The position is part-time to full-time. Candidates must be available to work at least 15 hours per week from September to December.

Schedule: Monday through Friday. This is a seasonal position roughly from September through December based on employee availability.

Location: This position is hybrid with some remote and in-person work based at our offices in Baltimore, MD at 3600 Clipper Mill Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211

What will you do?

Candidates for the Fall Vector Biologist Intern position should have an interest in insect biology, insect traps, and taxonomic identification. You will work with our entomology team to expand the database of images used to support development of our technology. This includes gathering new images of specimens, reviewing images of specimens gathered by partners for labeling accuracy, and supporting other technical experiments and work as assigned.

Candidates should be comfortable working with basic computers and software, and will gain exposure to working with a multidisciplinary technical team developing cutting edge technologies to improve the state of vector surveillance. Candidates with a broad range of practical experiences will be considered including amateur naturalists, environmental science or survey experience, technology related experience, and operational vector/pest surveillance or control roles.

Candidate Internship Eligibility - Interns must meet one of the four descriptions below:

• Current college student, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, who is attending a Maryland higher education institution.
• Current college student, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, who is Maryland high school graduate attending a higher education institution outside of Maryland.
• Graduate (within 12 months) of a Maryland higher education institution.
• Maryland resident, with a 2 or 4-year degree, who has been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, The National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces within the last 18 months.

Responsibilities include:

• Sorting, imaging, and identifying mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods with Vectech vector surveillance products
• Data entry and compilation for reports
• Supporting quality assurance of Vectech’s vector image database
• Perform field testing and validation of new products
• Maintain equipment and supplies in good working order.
• Adhere to all safety and environmental regulations while carrying out duties.
• Other duties as assigned

Required experience/skills:

• Comfort working in outdoor environments
• Ability to follow guidelines and protocols for data collection and experimentation
• Comfort working closely with mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs
• Basic proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets

Nice to have experience:

• Experience identifying insects, arachnids, or other “bugs”
• Experience working outdoors
• Projects/ internships/ degrees/ certifications in Environmental Science/ Biology or equivalent
• Experience working in collaborative teams with pest management organizations, mosquito control organizations or academic institutions
• Experience with GIS, tableau, and other information systems
• Experience or interest in startups or working with innovative technology
• Experience in mosquitoes, ticks, invasive species and/or agricultural pests

What’s it like working with Vectech?

As a social enterprise, Vectech cares deeply about people. We try to create an open and inclusive workplace, which operates on trust, care, and passion for what we do. Work life balance is highly valued at Vectech, and we make space for that in our policies.

Who is Vectech?

Vectech equips professionals with the capabilities of a medical entomologist using AI. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in world, killing over half-a-million people each year. There are thousands of different species of mosquitoes, which carry different diseases and have different behaviors that call for different control measures. With Vectech's products, pest control organizations in public health can quick generate the information they need to make public health decisions.

Compensation:

This is a paid internship at a rate of $20 per hour.