Scientific Support Intern

Position: Scientific Support Intern

Position Type: Temporary Employee (Intern) 

Department: Scientific Support 

Location: Salt River, Cape Town 

Experience: MSc in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics or related discipline.

Watchmaker Genomics is an early-stage life science company based in Boulder, Colorado with a R&D facility in Cape Town, South Africa. Our team is passionate about innovation and values collaboration, creativity and scientific rigor. We believe the intersection of biology, engineering and computer science presents exciting opportunities for developing novel technologies that promote research and improve human health. Watchmaker Genomics specializes in the design, development and production of DNA- and RNA-modifying enzymes that enable high-growth applications in genomics, molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine.

Position Summary

This is an on-site, entry level position as a Scientific Support Intern in our Cape Town office.

This position reports to the Senior Scientist, Support and Applications and will, with close supervision, assist with day-to-day activities related to NGS application-focused laboratory work, customer support, generation of internal technical support tools, data analysis and reporting. The intern is expected to provide accurate, consistent and timely results to members of the Scientific Support team and other teams as required.  

As a Scientific Support Intern you will gain experience in  a dynamic, fast-paced working environment and contribute directly to our company culture and success. This position will offer you unique challenges, as well as opportunities for learning and growth, and to support a global organization.

Skills and Requirements

The candidate should have an MSc (or equivalent experience) in molecular biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or a related discipline. Experience in the following areas is highly desirable: next-generation sequencing (NGS); PCR and qPCR; gene cloning; recombinant protein expression and purification; enzyme characterisation. Knowledge of DNA- and RNA-modifying enzymes and experience in the analysis of NGS data would be advantageous.

The following skills and experience are requirements for the position:

• Eagerness and interest to learn about the NGS market and technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to execute, reproduce and troubleshoot experiments.
• A creative and disciplined approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent organisational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• The ability to multitask, perform consistently under pressure, deliver timely action items and work without supervision.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work as an effective member of a team.
• Good verbal communication and personal task management skills and a high level of self-motivation and initiative.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Full competence in Google Suite, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint systems and ability to learn and build in-depth knowledge of new technology tools.

Core Responsibilities

• Assist with execution of NGS application-focused laboratory projects using Watchmaker and other competitors’ chemistry. 
• Plan and perform application-based experiments which have been identified to support projects which have customer impact or for customer-facing technical collateral as well as technical support tools. 
• Accurately document details of all experiments in an electronic lab notebook; meticulously collate, analyze and interpret data; and regularly present results.
• Compilation of lab-based results for Support Team use; writing of knowledge articles designed for internal use by the Support Team for customer support.
• Provide consultative technical support to customers and the Watchmaker Sales team, under supervision. 

Application Requirements 

To apply for the position, please submit the following in a PDF format on watchmakergenomics.com: 

• Letter of motivation (upload where it says cover letter)
• Resume or Curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience

Applications without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered. Local candidates preferred.

If selected to participate in the interview process, the names and contact information of three professional references who are able to assess your suitability for the position in terms of the specified requirements will be requested.

To ensure your application is considered, please submit it by Friday, 27 March 2026. Please note that this position may close earlier if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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SOUTH AFRICA - WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law.

All applicants will be asked if currently eligible to work in South Africa; and if now or in the future will require visa sponsorship to continue working in South Africa.

This position may be subject to pre-employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre-employment checks will comply with all applicable laws.