Join our team.

ChakraTech is a San Diego-based interdisciplinary startup using microbial fermentation and bioprocessing to engineer specialty biopolymers and biodegradable materials. We are bridging biotechnology and engineering to develop next-generation sustainable materials and chemicals, with active exploration of biotech and medical use cases.

Questions? Reach out through our Contact page.

Open Positions — Summer 2026

The following roles are open for Summer 2026. Positions may be eligible for funding pending program availability, or may be completed for academic credit — coordinate with your department. Flexible scheduling available for the right candidate.
Note: Paid positions are filled for 2026. Select internship roles for academic credit are still open — apply below


Application deadline: May 17, 2026.

  • Hours: 24–30 hours/week | 10–12 weeks

    Modality: In-Person

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to projects involving mechanical and electrical assembly, equipment setup and maintenance, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, and testing of material formulations and prototypes in support of lab-scale operations and scale-up.

    Ideal candidate: Engineering student (mechanical, materials science, electrical, chemical, or related field) with hands-on assembly or lab experience and working knowledge of basic electrical theory and common engineering tools. Comfortable working independently with primary or shared project responsibility.

  • Hours: 24–30 hours/week | 10–12 weeks

    Modality: In-Person

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to analytical characterization of biopolymers, biodegradable materials, and related compounds produced through ChakraTech's biomanufacturing pipeline. Work includes operating and maintaining analytical instrumentation (GC/MS, GPC, NMR), running samples, processing and interpreting spectral and chromatographic data, and supporting materials evaluation workflows tied to product development and quality assessment.

    Ideal candidate: Chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or bioengineering student with coursework or hands-on experience in analytical chemistry or materials characterization. Familiarity with at least one of GC/MS, GPC, or NMR strongly preferred. Detail-oriented with strong documentation habits.

  • Hours: 24–30 hours/week | 10–12 weeks

    Modality: Hybrid/Remote

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to administrative support, CRM management, marketing strategy, social media content creation (with a focus on LinkedIn), grant writing support, and business operations — helping position ChakraTech for growth as we scale from lab-stage startup to market.

    Ideal candidate: Business administration, marketing, communications, or economics student — or an engineering student with strong interest in business operations. Strong organizational skills, written communication, and ability to work independently are essential.

  • Hours: 24–30 hours/week | 10–12 weeks

    Modality: In-Person Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to microbial cell culture, molecular cloning, DNA extraction and purification, gene editing, and sterile technique work forming the foundation of ChakraTech's biomanufacturing pipeline. Medical and biotech applications are among the areas under active exploration.

    Ideal candidate: Bioengineering, biology, microbiology, or biotechnology student with hands-on lab experience. Proficiency in aseptic technique and molecular cloning workflows (restriction digestion, ligation, transformation) required. Experience with E. coli or other organismal genetics preferred.

  • Hours: 24–30 hours/week | 10–12 weeks

    Modality: In-Person

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to bioreactor setup and operation, fermentation monitoring, media and buffer preparation, design of experiments, and process troubleshooting — central to scaling ChakraTech's bio-based manufacturing from bench to pilot scale.

    Ideal candidate: Bioengineering, chemical/biological engineering, or fermentation science student with coursework or hands-on experience in bioprocess engineering and bioreactor operation. Familiarity with fermentation parameter optimization (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen) and experimental design a strong plus.

  • Hours: 24–30 hours/week | 10–12 weeks

    Modality: In-Person

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to cell lysis and product recovery, chromatographic purification, buffer and reagent preparation, and analytical assays for product purity and yield — the final stage of ChakraTech's biomanufacturing pipeline.

    Ideal candidate: Bioengineering, biochemistry, or chemical engineering student with coursework or experience in separation science, purification techniques (chromatography), and analytical methods. Methodical documentation skills essential.

  • Hours: Up to 30 hours/week | ~3 months (June–September 2026)

    Modality: In-Person

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to projects spanning bioprocess engineering, material characterization, and general engineering — including experimental design, lab testing, data analysis, equipment maintenance, and technical documentation. Medical and biotech use cases are among the areas under active development.

    Ideal candidate: Engineering student (chemical, bioengineering, materials science, mechanical, or related field) with at least two engineering courses completed. Strong data analysis and troubleshooting skills. Comfortable working independently with primary or shared project responsibility.

  • Hours: Up to 30 hours/week | ~3 months (June–September 2026)

    Modality: Hybrid/Remote

    Compensation: May be eligible for funding pending program availability, or for academic credit.

    Contribute to machine learning model development, data analysis, and AI-driven insights supporting bioprocess and materials R&D — including building predictive models, analyzing experimental datasets, and developing an ML/AI layer for ChakraTech's biomanufacturing pipeline. Medical and biotech use cases are among the areas under active development.

    Ideal candidate: Engineering or computer science student with proficiency in Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn) and familiarity with ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar). Strong foundation in statistics and data visualization. Interest in applying data science and AI to biotech or life sciences a strong plus.

How to Apply

Submit your application using the link above. You will need to upload your Resume/CV, Unofficial Transcript, and Cover Letter. At least one professional or academic reference is required before a final offer can be extended.

All candidates selected for an interview should be prepared to give a 5-minute presentation about themselves, their academic background, post-graduation goals, and why they want to work at ChakraTech.

Note: Paid positions are filled for 2026. Select internship roles for academic credit are still open — apply below

Application deadline: May 17, 2026.

Questions? Reach out through our Contact page.