QC2 Summer Internships

Quality Control Internships

Gain real world lab experience (and get paid!) this summer though QC2’s Internship Program!

This year, we have two options for students: a brewery internship or a biotech internship!

Brewery Internship (4 positions available)

The QC2 Lab at USM, known for supporting quality control testing and research for craft brewers, seeks motivated interns for a unique summer internship program based in breweries throughout Southern Maine. These project-based internships are designed for students to develop their applied research skills!

Biotech Internship (2 positions available)

New this year, the QC2 lab has two internships available at Katahdin Analytical in Scarborough. Students placed at Katahdin Analytical will gain experience in a wide variety of lab methods and tasks utilized in food safety testing and environmental analysis!

Apply here: Internship Application Form

Quality control plays a critical role in businesses across industries. Gain real world experience working in a quality control lab this summer! Undergraduate science students selected for this program will get an opportunity to apply their science knowledge and lab skills to support testing programs at breweries in Maine (mostly in the Greater Portland area) and at Katahdin Analytical.

What to expect as a QC2 Intern

Summer internships begin in mid-May, shortly after finals week of the Spring Semester. In the first week of the internship, all QC2 interns participate in a rigorous training program at the QC2 lab on USM’s Portland Campus. During the training program, interns are trained the common QC lab testing techniques and instrumentation they’ll master at their summer placements. After completing the training, interns are matched with a mentor at their host site. Students spend the rest of the summer working at their placement to support their quality control testing program and, where necessary, coordinate testing with the QC2 lab.

Responsibilities and Duties

Responsibilities and duties will vary between host sites. The following are general expectations:

Aseptically collect and process samples
Process sterile samples using aseptic technique on microbial media
Brewery interns will monitor carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in packaged products, and measure ABV, pH, and gravity
Enter data in central database
Communicate and collaborate with members of the quality team and host site to ensure that all quality analyses are completed
Coordinate sample testing with USM QC2 lab when needed
Additional testing methods and techniques as required by host site

Essential Skills and Experience:

Good communication skills
Positive attitude and willingness to be flexible and learn on the job
Ability to work well as part of a team and individually
Computer savvy: experienced with Google Docs and Microsoft Office
Understanding of basic scientific concepts and instrumentation

Physical demands and work environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the internship. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

This is a moderately active position that is a combination of stationary (computer, hood/benchtop) and mobile activities (collecting samples, carrying/moving kegs, washing glassware).
In the course of the day there are physical demands that involve bending, lifting, twisting, and reaching
Must be able to move 50+ lb kegs

Employment Details