Intern - John Keells Research and Plasticcycle
John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) is Sri Lanka's largest listed conglomerate in the Colombo Stock Exchange. From managing hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka and the Maldives to providing port, marine fuel and logistics services to IT solutions, manufacturing of food and beverages to running a chain of supermarkets, tea broking to stock broking, life insurance and banking to real estate, we have made our presence felt in virtually every major sphere of the economy.
Plasticcycle is a Social Entrepreneurship project of the John Keells Group launched in 2017 aimed at reducing plastic pollution, by encouraging reduction in the use of single-use plastics, supporting responsible disposal, and promoting recycling initiatives.
John Keells Research (JKR) is the R&D and Innovation arm of John Keells Holdings PLC. JKR is responsible for developing novel technologies in their core areas of Composites, Energy Storage, Biomaterials, and Mechatronics.
The multidisciplinary team at JKR works at the intersection of Science & Technology, Intellectual Property and Business to create value for the John Keells Group, our partner organizations, and the country.
Role Description
We are looking for an individual for a 3-month full-time internship focused on research on plastic-degrading microorganisms. The role involves conducting a thorough literature survey, compiling a detailed report, and presenting findings at the internship's end. Candidates should have a strong academic background in biotechnology, microbiology or related fields, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, multitask, work independently, and meet deadlines is essential. This internship offers valuable experience in cutting-edge research and science communication.
This is an agile role, which includes workdays at the corporate office, working from home, or working in the field.
General responsibilities include:
- Conducting a literature review and feasibility study related to the research topic.
- Meeting with resource persons to gather necessary information.
- Contacting suppliers and creating basic budgets.
- Writing reports.
- Presenting progress to the teams of John Keells Research and Plasticcycle.
Person Specifications
- Fresh graduate/undergraduate in the field of biotechnology, microbiology or a related field.
- A basic understanding of chemistry would be an added benefit.
- Proficiency in Sinhala and English written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to conduct literature surveys, gather relevant information from scientific journals and databases, and synthesize findings into a comprehensive report.
- Interest in environmental sustainability and a commitment to contributing to research efforts addressing plastic pollution.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by clicking on the advert on or before 07th May 2024.