R&D Laboratory Intern – RBI & Technical Development

Your Responsibilities

• Design and execute hands-on experiments in an R&D laboratory (e.g., synthetic chemistry, formulation development, analytical development, upstream/downstream bioprocess development, cell culture, immunoassays, molecular biology, or protein sciences), following established safety protocols and guidelines.
• Prepare solutions, reagents, media, and test articles.
• Operate relevant instrumentation.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, summarize findings, and propose next steps in collaboration with your supervisor and project team.
• Perform independent laboratory work under appropriate supervision, including troubleshooting and optimizing experimental procedures.
• Provide recommendations on experimental design, instrumentation, or process improvements that may enhance robustness, efficiency, or scalability.
• Participate in regular check-ins, presenting progress and results to your supervisor and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Rigorously document experimental plans, procedures, and results in laboratory notebooks, maintaining high standards and data integrity.
• Present final project results in an oral presentation summarizing your project objectives, methods, results, and key learnings to R&D colleagues and the intern community.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)

• Currently enrolled in a STEM field such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical science, molecular biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, or other related fields.
• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree program.
• Students must return to a degree seeking program for the fall semester following the completion of the internship.
• Experience with hands-on laboratory work gained through independent research, teaching labs, or prior internship experience.
• Comfort working at the bench (e.g., pipetting, solution preparation, aseptic technique, basic instrumentation) and following written protocols.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for data organization, analysis, and presentation.
• Scientific curiosity and a desire to innovate.
• Strong learning agility and willingness to acquire new techniques and concepts quickly.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in team environments and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical colleagues.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Expected graduation date between December 2027 and August 2028 with intention of entering industry following degree completion.
• Sustained performance (>1 semester) in an undergraduate or graduate STEM research laboratory (academic, industry, or prior internship/co-op) with demonstrated technical growth.
• Synthetic/Analytical Development: Organic synthesis, route scouting, analytical method development, chromatography, spectroscopy, physicochemical characterization, or solid form characterization.
• Formulation Development: Experience preparing dosage forms (e.g., solutions, suspensions, tablets, injectables), working with excipients, or conducting stability and compatibility studies.
• Experience with synthetic molecules, peptides, or biologics.
• Bioprocess/Upstream Development: Mammalian or microbial cell culture, aseptic technique, bioreactor operation, media/feed preparation, process optimization, or scale up studies.
• Antibody/Biologics: Immunoassays (e.g., ELISA), protein expression and purification, molecular cloning, flow cytometry, or related techniques.
• Familiarity with statistical or data analysis tools (e.g., R, JMP, Python, Minitab, or similar) and/or data management systems.
• Ability to work exceptionally well both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with appropriate levels of supervision.
• Demonstrated interest in animal health, sustainability, veterinary medicine, or data driven approaches to R&D.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly present scientific results.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced research environment.