Job Opportunity: Genotyping Lab Technician at Syngenta

Job Opportunity: Genotyping Lab Technician at Syngenta

Are you graduating soon or looking for an opportunity to build hands-on laboratory experience in genetics, plant science, or agriculture?

A former NIU student currently working in Syngenta’s Genotyping Lab in Malta, Illinois, shared a job opportunity that may be a great fit for Environmental Studies students and recent graduates interested in laboratory science, biotechnology, genetics, agriculture, and related fields.

Genotyping Lab Technician

Location: Malta, Illinois
Employer: Syngenta
Position: Temporary Genotyping Lab Technician
Pay: $22 per hour

Syngenta’s genotyping laboratory uses laboratory technology and automation to produce genetic data used by plant breeders. Technicians help prepare and process plant samples, perform laboratory testing, operate equipment, track samples through the laboratory process, and work collaboratively with other lab staff.

Applicants should be working toward or have completed a bachelor’s degree in biology, genetics, microbiology, agriculture, or a related field. Previous laboratory experience is preferred but not required. The position may be especially useful for students or recent graduates looking to gain experience with DNA-related laboratory work, automated laboratory equipment, and scientific data management.

The NIU alum who shared this opportunity noted that the lab expects to hire additional employees throughout this year and into next year, so students approaching graduation may also want to keep Syngenta on their radar for future openings.

Learn More and Apply

View the full position description and application information:

Genotyping Lab Technician – Syngenta

The current posting was published October 6, 2026. Interested students are encouraged to review the posting and apply while the position is available.

Become a Regeneration Field Institute Campus Representative

 Northern Illinois University undergraduate students are invited to apply to become a Campus Representative for the Regeneration Field Institute (RFI), a field-based research and education institute in Ecuador focused on regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, soil restoration, and the bioeconomy.

RFI is seeking one to two undergraduate students to serve as student leaders and research-collaboration facilitators at universities across the United States. Campus Representatives help connect students, professors, researchers, advisors, and campus organizations with opportunities for hands-on field learning in Ecuador.

What Campus Representatives Do

Campus Representatives may assist with:

• Outreach and networking
• Public speaking and campus promotion
• Weekly meetings, training, and support
• Mentoring from RFI staff
• Connecting students and faculty with RFI research and education opportunities

Students will have opportunities to learn about topics including bamboo construction, regenerative agroforestry, GIS, soil science, and more.

Spring 2027 Field Program in Ecuador

RFI will host a hands-on education program in Ecuador March 6-13, 2027. Participants will work alongside Farmer Field School leaders to plant and prune regenerative agroforestry systems.

Campus Representatives may have the opportunity to earn a full scholarship to travel to Ecuador.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to all undergraduate students. Students interested in environmental studies, sustainability, agriculture, restoration, ecology, geography, soil science, international education, community engagement, or related fields may find the experience especially relevant.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested students are encouraged to apply soon.

Learn More and Apply

Visit the Regeneration Field Institute Campus Representative page:

https://regenerationfieldinstitute.com/campus-rep

Learn more about the Regeneration Field Institute at:

https://regenerationfieldinstitute.com/

Earthrise 815: Sustainability Action Conference

Students interested in sustainability, climate action, environmental policy, community planning, energy, and environmental careers are invited to attend Earthrise 815: A Sustainability Action Conference on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Rockford, Illinois.

Presented by Sustain Rockford, Earthrise 815 will bring together community members, sustainability professionals, business owners, and local leaders to explore ways to put the Rockford region's Climate Action Plan into practice. The full-day conference will feature 21 breakout sessions, an exhibit hall with local organizations and resources, and a locally sourced, low-waste lunch. Earthrise 815

Bill McKibben, environmentalist, author, and founder of Third Act and 350.org, will deliver the keynote address. Featured speakers include Doug Scott, Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and author and speaker Mark Charles. Earthrise 815

For Environmental Studies students, this is an opportunity to learn how sustainability and climate planning move from ideas to implementation, hear from professionals working in the field, and connect with organizations and leaders from across the Rockford region.

When: Friday, November 6, 2026
Where: Embassy Suites Conference Center, 416 S. Main St., Rockford, IL
Registration begins: 7:30 a.m.
Conference programming begins: 8:15 a.m. Earthrise 815

Learn more and register for Earthrise 815

Center for Southeast Asian Studies Fall 2026 Lecture Series

The NIU Center for Southeast Asian Studies is hosting its Fall 2026 Lecture Series, featuring scholars and practitioners discussing health, history, philosophy, conservation, global economic systems and more. Most lectures are offered Fridays at noon, with both in-person and online attendance options.

Upcoming events include:

• Friday, Sept. 25 at noon
  “The Indonesian American Family Health Project: Exploring Experiences of Acculturation and Well-being”
  Presented by Tomoyuki Shibata, Duhita Mahatmya, Florensia F. Surjadi and Riyani.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.
  The presentation will explore experiences of acculturation and well-being among Indonesian American families.
• Friday, Oct. 2 at noon
  “Historical Maps and Trade Systems in Maritime Pacific: 17th to 19th Centuries”
  Presented by Richard Pegg, Director and Curator of Asian Art at the MacLean Collection.
  Location: Altgeld Hall, Room 125, and online.
• Friday, Oct. 9 at noon
  “Anger as Compost: Thich Nhat Hanh, Myisha Cherry, and Rage as Skillful Means”
  Presented by Logan Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at NIU.
  Location: Altgeld Hall, Room 125, and online.
• Friday, Oct. 16 at noon
  “Saving Asia’s Threatened Trees: From Assessment to Action”
  Presented by Kate Good and Amy Byrne of The Morton Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.
  This lecture is cosponsored by NIU’s Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy and may be especially relevant for Environmental Studies students interested in biodiversity, conservation and applied environmental work.
• Friday, Oct. 23 at noon
  “Burmese Buddha Biography: Weathervane for Changing Times”
  Presented by Lilian Handlin, Professor Emeritus at Harvard University.
  Location: Altgeld Hall, Room 125, and online.
• Friday, Oct. 30 at noon
  “Indonesia in Global Value Chains: Understanding the New Economic Imperialism”
  Presented by Intan Suwandi, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Illinois State University.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.

Council on Thai Studies Annual Conference

The Council on Thai Studies Annual Conference (COTS) will take place Nov. 6-8. The conference is free to attend, but registration is required by Oct. 1.

• Friday, Nov. 13 at noon
  “More than a Sideshow: U.S. Propaganda Campaigns & the Global Color Line in Cold War Cambodia, 1955-1970”
  Presented by Ron Leonhardt, Assistant Professor of History at Missouri State University.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.
• Friday, Nov. 20 at noon
  “Reframing Reconciliation: Hóa Giải and the Paths of Healing the Past”
  Presented by Alex-Thai Dinh Vo, Research Assistant Professor at the Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University.
  Location: Online only. Registration is required.

For more information about the lecture series, contact Rachael Skog at 815-753-1595 or rskog@niu.edu. 

 

NASA EarthRISE Developers Academy Spring 2027 Paid Research Opportunities

NASA EarthRISE Developers Academy is offering 14-week, paid research opportunities this spring that are open to current students and recent graduates, as well as transitioning/early career professionals. The Developers Academy builds the next generation of science and technology leaders through an immersive, experiential model applying NASA Earth observations to real-world challenges.

For the spring 2027 term, EarthRISE Developers Academy will provide in-person opportunities at Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, CA), Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA), Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA), and Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL). Additionally, a limited number of projects are available for virtual participation. Through collaborative projects, professional development, and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private partnerships, the Academy equips participants with the skills to accelerate innovation and bridge Earth science with the future of space exploration.

The Developers Academy is an interdisciplinary activity, where we accept participants with experience in a variety of fields, as well as from different phases of their career. Applicants with demonstrated skills in Earth and/or environmental sciences, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and/or computer science are encouraged to apply. Participants will work together on teams, guided by NASA science advisors and in partnership with decision-makers, to expand their skills to use NASA science data and apply it to projects that span a variety of topics and thematic areas including Water Resources, Disasters, Agriculture, Ecological Conservation, Lunar Resources, and more.

Applicants must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. EarthRISE Developers Academy offers hourly, paid positions with rates that are determined by education level and working location. During the term, selected participants should be able to commit to 25 – 29 hours per week, Monday – Thursday during normal business hours.

Please see details about this opportunity including eligibility, tentative project themes, and application instructions at https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/earthrise-developers-academy/. The application window is open now through October 9, 2026 for the 14-week, Spring 2027 project term taking place from January 11 – April 16, 2027. US citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status is required to apply.