Computer Vision and Machine Learning Intern

Cultivarium is a Focused Research Organization (FRO) and a Frontier Research Contractor with a mission to accelerate the adoption of novel microorganisms for biotechnology. We are looking for someone who can contribute both individually and as part of a team to create tangible solutions for a ‘moonshot’ project. You will be part of a close-knit, driven team of scientists and engineers that are building technological infrastructure for the cultivation of non-model microorganisms, to open new avenues for science, technology, medicine, and agriculture.

We are seeking an AI Intern to help build, fine-tune, and evaluate vision language models (VLMs) in a scientific research environment. This position offers a unique opportunity for an intern to operate in the intersection of AI and biology, spanning topics such as experimental research, scientific documentation, and lab automation. This is a paid internship with an hourly rate of $25–$35, depending on experience and qualifications. The length of the internship is 3 months with the possibility of extension.

You will create impact by leveraging your technical skills to develop machine vision applications that use Large Language Models (LLMs), VLMs, and/or Vision Language Action models (VLAs) to assist in the automated documentation of laboratory procedures and their translation into robotic actions. Your focus will be on understanding basic experimental procedures, designing and labeling critical training datasets, fine-tuning and comparing models, and evaluating model performance.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to::
• Work closely with project manager, engineers, and scientists to architect, build, and annotate training datasets for an experimental research setting.
• Fine-tune VLMs and evaluate/compare model performance.
• Identify model limitations and opportunities for improvement.
• Write clean, maintainable, and testable code, following best practices.
• Summarize and present your work to your supervisor and team members.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

Basic Qualifications:
• Relevant expertise in VLMs, machine vision, Vision Language Action (VLA) models, object recognition/detection, computer detection, large language models (LLMs), building custom agents, robotics.
• Experience with video dataset annotation via platforms such as Roboflow or V7.
• Experience with fine-tuning and evaluating VLMs such as Qwen, ViTPose++, YOLO, and DETR on performance metrics such as mAP50 and latency.
• Coding ability in Python.
• Interest in Biology and an eagerness to develop subject matter expertise in laboratory equipment and techniques.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and adapt quickly to evolving needs.
• Skilled in creative problem-solving, with keen attention to detail and a collaborative approach.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively, communicate clearly with colleagues, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Advanced Qualifications:
• Graduated or pursuing a Master’s degree in computer science, data science, machine learning, or a related field.
• Track record of success on ML competition platforms such as Kaggle.
• Hands-on experience with experimental equipment and protocols in Biology at the undergraduate level.

Cultivarium aims to help fill a structural gap in today's R&D system. We enable fundamental research that requires unusual levels of scale and coordination that is not yet rapidly monetizable by industry. We’re bringing together top talent from academia, industry, and startups to build a new model for innovative R&D. We identify high-impact scientific or technical research and development opportunities, ultimately defining and launching these projects as Focused Research Organizations.

Cultivarium, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.