Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, which provides a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries. The Group believes it is the world leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetics products testing and in agroscience CRO services. It is also one of the global independent market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, CDMO, advanced material sciences and for supporting clinical studies. In addition, Eurofins is one of the leading global emerging players in specialty clinical diagnostic testing.

In 2018, Eurofins generated 4.2 billion Euro proforma turnover in 800 laboratories across 47 countries, employing about 45.000 staff.

Tecna, as a part of Eurofins Technologies multi-national network, has the goal of developing and validating reliable industrial solutions for food safety assessment.  It has been producing several immunoassays based on different technologies since 25 years, and keeps growing its catalogue portfolio with novel assays and applications to cover the food industry necessities of analysing chemical contaminants in ingredients and finished products. Applications need to be fast, easy, reliable and possibly safe for the personnel involved in routine implementation of analysis. In other words, the sample preparation and contaminants extraction from food matrices must be arranged through robust, simple and quick procedures, being ideally able to extract multiple contaminants in one single preparation, and being solvent – free or at least non-toxic.

The internship allows students to take a deep dive into the world of a cutting-edge Eurofins Technologies R&D competence centre and carry out interesting project work in liaison with her/his studies.

Objectives:

Learning how to run immunoassays (enzyme linked immunosorbent assays in plate, also master-curve calibrated, lateral flow immunoassays, other) for the detection of chemical contaminants in food and feedstuffs

Studying the chemistry related to proper extraction of contaminants from the matrix, identifying possible protocols to try on real materials

Sample collection, acceptance, preparation, storage, documentation

Comparison of different procedures for sample preparation / extraction, optimization, correction

Data analysis

Reporting

Students who are approaching the Master of Science in analytical chemistry, food chemistry, food technology, biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceutical technology and other related subjects

Practical laboratory knowledge

Careful, ordered, structured and independent way of working

Deep knowledge of Excel functions

Good communication skills, resilience, flexibility, curiosity and ability to work as part of a team

Good command of English language is desirable