Bioprocessing & Plant Science Intern (COVE Internship Program)

Bioprocessing & Plant Science Intern

COVE

Dartmouth, NS

Host Company:

PhyCo Technologies Inc.

335 Kings Road

Sydney, NS

B1S 1B3

Who is COVE? 

COVE is a tech hub and commercialization partner home to more than 400 organizations that use its facilities, services and programs. COVE brings together industry, academia and government to accelerate marine technology development and commercialization - from seabed to space - ensuring resilient supply chains built with Canadian solutions. Through its vast international network, COVE has been at the forefront of providing invaluable networking opportunities, fostering connections, and leading discussions within the global marine technology community. 

COVE spearheads programs aimed at nurturing talent, expediting the release of technology products, and bolstering the success of emerging ventures by startups, scaleups, and SMEs. These initiatives, coupled with COVE's ability to harness diverse skills and expertise nationally within the innovation ecosystem, serve as an enabler for overcoming industry challenges, driving economic growth, and delivering value to investors.  

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, we are actively seeking to expand our team to further bolster our transformational influence on the marine sector. We recognize that our journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of our team - a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement. 

What is the COVE Internship Program? 

We are looking for bright, talented individuals at the post-secondary level, interested in the marine sector, who are looking to gain valuable, hands-on work experience. You will be placed with a host company in the marine sector and will be working on a core project for their business. Projects are interdisciplinary and students will be collaborating closely with other students and staff from different disciplines. 

The COVE internship is a collaboration with numerous companies that are leaders in the marine and marine technology sector. We are diligent in placing students in a role with a company that is well aligned with their discipline of study, skillset, and future career ambitions. Canada’s marine sector is growing and thriving and contributes millions of dollars to our national economy on an annual basis. COVE is seeking interns who are Canada’s best and brightest to be part of this phenomenal growth. 

• Internship Eligibility:  

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  • Open to post-secondary students across all disciplines (i.e. Environmental Sciences, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Marketing and Communications, etc.) 
  
  
  
  

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  • Students must be actively enrolled in a post-secondary program at the time of the summer internship 
  
  
  
  

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  • Based on the required skillsets, placements are typically geared towards second-year undergraduate students and above 
  
  
  
  

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  • Collaborative self-starter 
  
  
  
  

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  • Open to learning  
  
  
  
  

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  • Have experience or an interest in the marine sector  
  
  
  
  

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  • International students must be eligible to work in Canada and have a valid study/work permit  
  
  
  
  

• Program Highlights:  

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  • 16-week full-time paid (min. $22/hr) employment from May-August 2026 
  
  
  
  

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  • Project-based learning opportunity with a host company in Nova Scotia  
  
  
  
  

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  • Professional development sessions 
  
  
  
  

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  • Mentorship from industry professionals  
  
  
  
  

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  • Networking opportunities  
  
  
  
  

The Opportunity: 

PhyCo is a B2B biomaterials company tackling plastic pollution in agriculture by developing earth-digestible, seaweed-based biomaterials through a proprietary biorefinery process. Our products are targeted to agriculture to help farmers save money on their operational costs while minimizing environmental impact. 

We are a female-led, science-driven team working at the intersection of ocean innovation, sustainable materials, and climate solutions. We are looking for interns who are curious, motivated, and passionate about solving complex, real-world problems through innovative science and applied research. We value diverse perspectives, collaborative work, and learning through experimentation. Interns will be encouraged to ask questions, contribute ideas, and take ownership of meaningful technical work in a fast-growing startup environment. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment.    

What you will be doing:  

You will focus on optimizing bioprocessing workflows for multiple biological feedstocks, including seaweed-derived materials, to improve process efficiency and consistency. The role may also include plant-based assay testing to evaluate biological interactions and performance. 

Key Deliverables

• Assist with bioprocessing optimization across multiple feedstocks at both lab and pilot-production scales.  


• Support process efficiency improvements of biorefinery by testing and documenting changes during pilot runs.


• Collect, analyze, and summarize process performance data from internal pilots and early-adopter field trials.  


• Support execution of plant assay testing related to pilot materials, including setup, monitoring, and data capture.  


• Prepare a comparative technical summary highlighting outcomes from lab, pilot, and early-adopter testing.  
  


• Contribute to process documentation and scale-up learnings to support future commercialization. 
  

What you will bring: 

• Currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in Bioprocess Engineering, Plant Science, Biology, Agricultural Science, Biotechnology, or a related field.  


• Foundational knowledge of biological systems, plant science, or bioprocessing principles.  


• Prior laboratory or experimental experience (academic or applied), including sample preparation and data recording.  


• Comfort following experimental protocols and adapting to iterative testing environments.  


• Basic experience with data organization and analysis (e.g., spreadsheets, lab notebooks).


• Interest in process optimization, sustainability, and applied biological testing.  


• Strong organizational skills and ability to communicate results clearly to technical and non-technical team members. 
  

Additional Assets: 

• Experience with bioprocess optimization or scale-up concepts.  


• Prior exposure to plant assays, greenhouse trials, or agricultural testing.  


• Familiarity with wet lab techniques and biological sample handling.  


• Experience documenting or improving process workflows or SOPs.  


• Interest in nature-based solutions, sustainable agriculture, or climate technology. 
  

Access to a vehicle or mode of transport is not required, but should be considered as work will be conducted at the Verschuren Center in Nova Scotia.   

COVE is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the marine sector, including women, Indigenous Peoples, individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds, and other equity-deserving groups.  

To submit an application, click “Apply”. The deadline for submission is 11:59 pm ADT, Monday, February 11th, 2026. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.