Are you passionate about sustainable engineering and looking for hands-on experience in environmental biotechnology and process engineering? Join a research team dedicated to developing innovative and practical solutions for the Water–Food–Energy Nexus.
SATT AxLR is seeking a biotechnology R&D intern to work primarily with the Process Engineering (GPM) team at the European Institute of Membranes (IEM) in Montpellier.
The project aims to develop a low-tech bioprocess that turns organic waste into a resource. Designed to be environmentally considerate and to require very little maintenance, it seeks to help farmers become more self-sufficient in fertilisation. The process uses a low-tech bioreactor to recover nutrients from digestate produced by anaerobic digestion. Proof of concept has been established; the next steps are to optimise the process and scale it up.
The project lies at the crossroads of environmental process engineering, biological treatment, membrane technologies, nutrient recovery and circular economy. The overall ambition is to recover valuable nutrients and water from waste streams while reducing resource consumption and environmental impacts.
Current R&D priorities include increasing the nitrification rate, reducing residence times, improving membrane fluxes and adding instrumentation to the pilot units.
The intern will be fully integrated into the R&D team and will contribute not only to pilot operation and monitoring, but also to experimental design, process optimisation and scale-up.
The intern will:
The intern will also back up project data in line with company policy and report progress to the on-site supervisors and project manager, including through monthly updates and a final project report.
This internship is particularly suited to students who want to apply environmental engineering and biotechnology to real-world sustainability challenges and contribute directly to the development of a technology moving from proof-of-concept towards pilot scale.
Bachelor’s or Master’s student (equivalent to Bac+3 to Bac+5), or engineering student, with studies or professional experience related to environmental/process engineering, bioprocesses, biotechnology, water treatment or microbiology.
Strong interest in sustainability, circular economy, resource recovery, water treatment and/or environmental biotechnology.
Ability to perform routine biological, physical and chemical analyses carefully and consistently. At a minimum, this includes measuring pH, dry matter content and flow rates.
Familiarity with colorimetric assay kits and with sample dilution and filtration for chromatographic analysis.
Ability to plan, carry out and analyse experiments addressing a technical or scientific question.
Basic knowledge of chemistry and/or microbiology, and ability to process data using Excel.
Careful experimental practice, willingness to work in a laboratory, ability to follow protocols, growing autonomy and a collaborative mindset.
Curiosity, motivation to learn, interest in experimental R&D and willingness to contribute actively to a multidisciplinary research team.
Language proficiency in French is a big plus.
The internship (4–6 months) is based primarily with the GPM Process Engineering team at IEM in Montpellier. Hands-on work with digestate and bacterial biomass can be messy and sometimes unpleasant; applicants should be comfortable handling these materials.
The student will work in an active research environment combining laboratory experiments, biological reactors, membrane processes and pilot-scale development, with direct interactions with researchers and engineers involved in developing sustainable technologies for water and resource recovery.