Microbiology Intern at Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) | Apply Now

Looking for a Tillamook microbiology internship in the USA? Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is offering a 10–12-week Microbiology Summer Internship in Tillamook, Oregon, for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program. This opportunity provides hands-on experience in microbiology testing, PCR, aseptic techniques, and laboratory data management while supporting dairy quality and animal health initiatives.

  • Position: Microbiology Summer Intern
  • Location: Tillamook, OR, USA
  • Req #: 5028
  • No. of Openings: 1
  • Program Length: 10 to 12-week program

About Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA)

Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative established in 1909. The company produces a range of dairy products, including cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and cream cheese. It focuses on product quality, food safety, and supporting the dairy farmers who supply its milk.

Tillamook microbiology internship Description

The Tillamook microbiology internship is part of TCCA’s 10–12-week Summer Internship Program, which gives students the opportunity to contribute to real-world projects. The selected intern will learn microbiology laboratory testing methods and support producer farm testing initiatives aimed at identifying mastitis infections earlier, improving herd health, and maintaining milk quality.

Eligibility Criteria

Required Qualifications

  • Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
  • Must not be scheduled to graduate in the semester immediately before the internship.
  • Students pursuing degrees in Microbiology, Food Science, Biotechnology, or related fields are preferred.

Required Skills

  • Hands-on experience with microbiology plating and aseptic techniques.
  • Ability to work with moderate supervision.
  • Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
  • Basic mathematical skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Preferred Skills

  • Previous experience with PCR techniques.

Tillamook microbiology internship – Key Responsibilities

  • Perform microbiology testing on cheese, ice cream, whey powder, and environmental swab samples.
  • Assist with farm sample testing using PCR and traditional plating methods.
  • Enter and maintain laboratory data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
  • Support tracking and management of farm PCR reagents.
  • Help develop a dashboard to identify mastitis trends across producer farms.
  • Assist with custom primer and probe setup for mastitis testing.
  • Develop or improve training materials for the microbiology laboratory.
  • Support laboratory activities while following aseptic techniques and testing procedures.

The Tillamook microbiology internship offers students an opportunity to gain practical laboratory experience while contributing to dairy quality testing and mastitis monitoring projects. Candidates with a background in microbiology, food science, or biotechnology and hands-on experience in plating and aseptic techniques can review the eligibility criteria and apply through the official job posting.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE