Application Guide
How to Apply for Automation Scientist Graduate Intern, RAC Operations
at GinkGo Bioworks
🏢 About GinkGo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks is a pioneering synthetic biology company that designs custom organisms for diverse industries, from pharmaceuticals to agriculture. What makes Ginkgo unique is its platform approach—treating biology as programmable technology through its foundries and codebase. You'd be joining a company at the forefront of making biology easier to engineer, with a strong emphasis on automation and scale.
About This Role
This internship involves mastering Ginkgo's Reconfigurable Automation Cells (RAC) platform to execute molecular and cell biology workflows programmatically. You'll start by operating and troubleshooting the system, then progress to modifying or writing new automation protocols. The role is impactful because it directly supports Ginkgo's mission to scale biological engineering by ensuring automated workflows run reliably and efficiently.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start by remote monitoring queued protocols on the RAC platform, checking for errors or completion statuses. You'd then prepare reagents for upcoming workflows, possibly troubleshoot a cell culture assay with support from the Apex team, and later analyze data to suggest optimizations for automation efficiency. Over time, you'd spend parts of the day writing or modifying Python scripts to refine protocols for smoother execution.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who GinkGo Bioworks Is Looking For
- A recent or upcoming graduate in CS, Bioengineering, or related fields with hands-on computational skills (e.g., scripting for automation, data analysis).
- Someone with an 'automation-forward' mindset—demonstrated through projects, coursework, or prior experience where they optimized or troubleshooted robotic/lab systems.
- A learner eager to bridge biology and engineering: you might have a non-biology background but show genuine curiosity to master wet-lab workflows and experimental design.
- Proactive and resilient: willing to do remote/on-site error recovery and 'whatever it takes' to keep scientific workflows running, as highlighted in the job description.
📝 Tips for Applying to GinkGo Bioworks
Highlight any experience with lab automation software (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan, custom platforms) or programmatic control of hardware—even from academic projects or hackathons.
Tailor your resume to show computational skills relevant to automation: mention scripting languages (Python, R), version control (Git), or tools for protocol generation/monitoring.
Research Ginkgo's RAC platform and mention specific interest in it; if possible, reference their public talks or blog posts about automation to show depth.
Emphasize instances where you learned a new domain quickly (e.g., a non-biology major picking up lab techniques) to align with the 'learn biology' aspect.
Include metrics or outcomes from past projects that demonstrate making systems 'run smoother'—like reducing error rates, improving throughput, or automating manual tasks.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Express specific enthusiasm for Ginkgo's platform-driven approach to synthetic biology and how RAC automation fits into that vision.", 'Detail a relevant project or experience where you operated, troubleshooted, or improved an automated system—focus on the process and results.', 'Explain your motivation to bridge computational skills with biology, even if your background is non-biological, and how you plan to contribute to workflow optimization.', 'Mention your willingness to engage in both remote monitoring and on-site support, highlighting adaptability and a hands-on mindset.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Ginkgo's Bioworks4 platform and their public materials on RAC or automation—check their blog, YouTube, or conference talks for technical insights.
- → Look into Ginkgo's partnerships and projects (e.g., in biosecurity, therapeutics, or sustainable materials) to understand the real-world impact of their automated workflows.
- → Review their company culture and values—note their emphasis on 'codebase' and platform thinking, which aligns with the role's focus on scalable systems.
- → Investigate the Apex Support team mentioned in the job description to grasp the collaborative structure you'd be joining.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning Ginkgo's RAC platform or synthetic biology focus—shows lack of tailored interest.
- Overemphasizing theoretical biology knowledge without demonstrating hands-on automation or computational skills—this role is practical and systems-oriented.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of troubleshooting or improving processes—vague statements won't stand out for an 'automation-forward' role.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to GinkGo Bioworks!