R&D Intern – Protein Analysis

Location: Wageningen, Netherlands

Hybrid: 4–5 days per week in the office

Start date: September 2026

Duration: 6 months

About the role

We are looking for a motivated, curious, and detail-oriented Protein Analysis Intern to join our team and contribute to projects focused on the analysis and characterization of dairy and plant-based protein ingredients.

In this role, you will support the development and validation of analytical methods used to measure and characterize protein content across a wide range of product categories and matrices, including creams, cream cheese, cheese products, emulsions, water suspensions, and hybrid systems. You will contribute to projects aimed at improving and upgrading analytical capabilities within the laboratory while supporting innovation and product quality initiatives.

You will gain hands-on laboratory experience while independently running your own project in close collaboration with the science team, creams team, and product development teams. A key focus of the internship will involve validating analytical equipment and ensuring accurate protein measurements across different formulations and protein sources, including dairy proteins as well as plant-based proteins such as pea, lentil, and soy.

During the internship, you will perform routine analytical testing, prepare samples, analyse and interpret data, and contribute to the development of rapid protein analysis models across different product categories. You will also summarize your findings in reports and presentations and help assess why validation approaches were successful or where limitations occurred.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to combine food chemistry, analytical science, and product development within an international FMCG environment while contributing directly to projects with industrial relevance.

You will also take part in the intern challenge, collaborating with other interns on a shared project during your internship.

Join us in shaping the future of protein analysis and ingredient innovation!

So, what does it take to be successful in this role?

• You are currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Dairy Technology, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field at a Dutch or European university.
• You are enrolled as a student for the full duration of the internship.
• You have familiarity with protein analysis techniques and standard analytical methods used in food or dairy testing.
• You are detail-oriented, organized, and capable of independently managing your experiments and timelines.
• You are proactive, curious, and comfortable building your own network and reaching out to different stakeholders when needed.
• You have strong analytical skills and enjoy interpreting experimental data and translating findings into insights.
• You have good communication skills and enjoy working effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• You are comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• It is a plus if you have previous hands-on laboratory experience and enjoy experimental work.

What’s next?

If this position sounds interesting, please hit the apply button now!