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Intern and Grow with us
About Duckweed Labs
Duckweed Labs is a diverse, multi-institutional startup focused on sustainable space nutrition to support long-duration astronaut missions and, ultimately, communities on Earth facing food scarcity. Our flagship product, the Duckweed Protein Supplement Dispenser (DPSD), offers a renewable, efficient way to keep astronauts healthy, while reducing costly resupply missions. If you’re seeking a dynamic environment where you’ll solve puzzles nobody has tackled before, and where your ideas truly matter: you’re going to love Duckweed Labs.
Role Overview
As a Funding Manager & Grant Writer (Intern), you will research and prioritize funding opportunities and develop compelling proposals at a consistent pace (aiming for one proposal per week). You will collaborate closely with project managers, engineers, and scientists to craft technical and scientific narratives that highlight Duckweed Labs’ vision, progress, and impact.
Responsibilities
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Funding Research: Identify potential grants from federal agencies, private foundations, and corporate sponsors.
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Strategic Scheduling: Develop and maintain a calendar of grant deadlines, ensuring timely submissions.
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Proposal Development: Write and refine technical, scientific, and impact-driven grant proposals.
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Collaboration: Work with cross-functional teams to gather data, project milestones, and supporting materials.
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Language & Persuasion: Produce clear, compelling proposals that meet each funder’s requirements and objectives.
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Proactive Execution: Manage one proposal per week cadence, staying organized and responsive to shifting priorities.
Requirements
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Citizenship: U.S. Citizen (required for ITAR compliance)
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Education: Currently pursuing or holding a bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Business, Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
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Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone preferred
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Technical/Scientific Writing:
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Familiarity with scientific or technical content and terminology (e.g., engineering, environmental science)
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NASA L'SPACE NPWEE experience and certificate of completion is a plus
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Soft Skills:
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Detail-oriented and well-organized
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Strong communication and collaboration abilities
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Proactive, self-motivated approach to managing deadlines
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Software/Tools: Comfortable with collaboration platforms (e.g., Google Workspace, Notion, or similar).
What We Offer
While this is an unpaid internship, you will gain:
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Real-World Grant Writing Experience: Develop proposals for public and private funding sources.
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Professional Skill-Building: Strengthen your technical writing, project management, and persuasive language skills.
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Networking Opportunities: Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and industry professionals, expanding your professional circle.
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Visibility & Impact: Your successful proposals can significantly shape Duckweed Labs’ growth and innovations.
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Potential Recognition: Build a strong portfolio of grant proposals and possibly secure recognition in future publications or announcements.
As Duckweed Labs grows, you may become eligible for competitive salaries, benefits, and equity.
Why Join Us?
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Mission-Driven: Support astronaut nutrition and address global food scarcity challenges.
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Flexible & Remote: We focus on results, letting you manage your schedule effectively.
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Inclusive Culture: Diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s ideas carry weight.
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Open Communication: Founders remain accessible, fostering transparency and collaborative decision-making.
Apply Now
If you’re excited by grant writing, eager to research funding opportunities, and love crafting persuasive narratives, we want to hear from you! We believe our strength lies in diverse ideas and backgrounds. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t match every requirement listed. Your perspective could be the missing piece.
If you’re motivated, curious, and ready to innovate, join us on this mission to revolutionize space nutrition and make a lasting impact. Click apply and submit your resume and a brief statement of interest.
Join Our Team
We’re looking for highly-motivated, super skilled, humble and hungry individuals to intern and grow with us. Submit your application. Join Duckweed Labs!
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