LAB Internship: Microbial Cross-feeding

Lab internship: Microbial cross-feeding Are you an enthusiastic master's student (MSc) in Microbiology, Life Sciences, or a related field with a passion for microbial research and laboratory work? Starting from 15 September 2026, Winclove Probiotics offers an exciting internship opportunity within the R&D department in Amsterdam-North, where you will contribute to innovative research projects in the field of probiotics and gut health. Your role Winclove Probiotics develops and produces high-quality probiotic food supplements in powder form. In order to develop the most effective probiotics, we continuously invest in research and technology. This also includes understanding how probiotic species interact and create interspecies networks. Through metabolic cross-feeding, the by-products released by one organism serve as substrates for others, creating cooperative and competitive relationships that shape community structure. As a result, the overall functionality of the bacterial community emerges not from individual species alone, but from the collective metabolic interplay of its members. This internship project aims to investigate microbial cross-feeding interactions as a strategy to enhance the production of beneficial metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The student will design and test co-culture systems to assess how metabolic interactions influence SCFA yield. The project will involve growth monitoring (e.g., OD measurements or CFU counts), metabolite profiling through the quantification of SCFAs, and potentially gene expression analysis (qPCR) of key metabolic pathways. The outcome of the project will provide mechanistic insights into the metabolic interplay between microbial species and how these interactions can be leveraged to optimize functional metabolite production. Practical information: • Department: R&D • Duration: 6-9 months • The internship and the supervision are in English • Start date: 15 September 2026 • Location: Amsterdam-North, The Netherlands What do we ask of you? • An enthusiastic MSc student in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or a related field. • Practical experience in microbiology, including bacterial culture. • Interest in probiotics and bacterial mechanisms. • Ability to work independently and think critically while maintaining good laboratory documentation. • Good command of English, both written and spoken. • Currently residing in the Netherlands. What do we offer you At Winclove Probiotics, you can truly make a difference. Our mission is to be the best company for the world. Our colleagues trust each other and take pride in what they do, making us a Great Place to Work! We initiate and support many social projects in Amsterdam-North and are B Corp certified. We strive to protect our planet, aim for greater inclusivity, and contribute to a sustainable economy. Additionally, we offer: • A varied role in an open, socially engaged organisation with short lines of communication and an informal atmosphere. • An internship allowance of €500 per month. • Access to the Vitamin W vitality program. Are you interested? Do you recognise yourself in the above profile and are you enthusiastic about doing an internship at Winclove? Then send your resume and motivation to Jesús Pérez Ortega .