Laboratory Internships
Laboratory internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working scientists and technicians, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings across Education, Science & Research, and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals are actively listed, with Merck, Pilkington, and Penn State University among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 18+ Laboratory Internships
Purpose: Seeking a highly motivated student currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemical or mechanical Engineering. In this position, you will work with a team of technicians, engineers, and scientists to support the R&D stages of Chemical Vapor Depositions. Our intern program focuses on real-world, hands-on experiences to help prepare you for your career.
Essential Functions:
- Operate complex CVD lab equipment
- Prepare glass substrates for lab depositions
- Safely handle chemicals according to SDS standards
- Troubleshoot process problems, implement solutions in timely manner
- Continuously explore ways to improve safety of all aspects of CVD lab operation
- Participate in development and implementation of new CVD lab equipment
- Operate small pilot scale equipment in laboratory and manufacturing plants
- Create and adhere to SOP’s developed for CVD lab equipment
- Communicate effectively with all lab personnel
- Maintain accurate and detailed records (e.g. laboratory notebook and documents) in accordance with ISO9001:2000 standards.
- Adhere to NSG/Pilkington Standards of Business Conduct and its Values and Principles
- Other duties as assigned by manager
Top 3 Competencies Needed for Success in the Role:
- Passion for Excellence - Takes personal responsibility and ownership for achieving results & objectives.
- Safety & Quality Focus - Demonstrates a visible commitment to safety, quality and
- ethical behavior.
- Customer Focused - Actively seeks to understand internal & external customer circumstances, problems, expectations and needs.
Qualifications Required:
- Pursuing an undergraduate degree in a suitable field, such as Engineering or Chemistry
- Demonstrated hands-on technical skills
- Strong analytical and problem solving aptitude
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Ability to work in team environments
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Demonstrated commitment to safe and ethical behavior
Qualifications Desired:
- Pursuing an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science or Chemistry
- Experience in industrial laboratory environment
- Experience with handling hazardous chemicals
- Self-starter with strong desire for learning and improvement
_____________________________________________________________________________
NSG Group/Pilkington is an equal opportunity employer; M/F/D/V encouraged to apply. Qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Applicants have the option to confidentially self-identify or not self-identify when applying.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Purpose: Seeking a highly motivated student currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemical or mechanical Engineering. In this position, you will work with a team of technicians, engineers, and scientists to support the R&D stages of Chemical Vapor Depositions. Our intern program focuses on real-world, hands-on experiences to help prepare you for your career.
Essential Functions:
- Operate complex CVD lab equipment
- Prepare glass substrates for lab depositions
- Safely handle chemicals according to SDS standards
- Troubleshoot process problems, implement solutions in timely manner
- Continuously explore ways to improve safety of all aspects of CVD lab operation
- Participate in development and implementation of new CVD lab equipment
- Operate small pilot scale equipment in laboratory and manufacturing plants
- Create and adhere to SOP’s developed for CVD lab equipment
- Communicate effectively with all lab personnel
- Maintain accurate and detailed records (e.g. laboratory notebook and documents) in accordance with ISO9001:2000 standards.
- Adhere to NSG/Pilkington Standards of Business Conduct and its Values and Principles
- Other duties as assigned by manager
Top 3 Competencies Needed for Success in the Role:
- Passion for Excellence - Takes personal responsibility and ownership for achieving results & objectives.
- Safety & Quality Focus - Demonstrates a visible commitment to safety, quality and
- ethical behavior.
- Customer Focused - Actively seeks to understand internal & external customer circumstances, problems, expectations and needs.
Qualifications Required:
- Pursuing an undergraduate degree in a suitable field, such as Engineering or Chemistry
- Demonstrated hands-on technical skills
- Strong analytical and problem solving aptitude
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Ability to work in team environments
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Demonstrated commitment to safe and ethical behavior
Qualifications Desired:
- Pursuing an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science or Chemistry
- Experience in industrial laboratory environment
- Experience with handling hazardous chemicals
- Self-starter with strong desire for learning and improvement
_____________________________________________________________________________
NSG Group/Pilkington is an equal opportunity employer; M/F/D/V encouraged to apply. Qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Applicants have the option to confidentially self-identify or not self-identify when applying.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Laboratory Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Science & Research
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Tips for Your Laboratory Internship Search
Apply earlier than the semester cycle suggests
Large employers in pharmaceutical, biotech, and government research recruit their summer laboratory cohorts the preceding fall. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings consistently from September onward rather than waiting until spring semester begins.
Build documented proof before you apply
Laboratory hiring teams evaluate candidates on what they can actually do at the bench or in the data pipeline. Prioritize completing two or three projects you can document fully, experimental write-ups, published analyses, or instrument-specific protocols, so recruiters have something concrete to assess beyond your coursework list.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller laboratory cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at fairs.
Practice your technical screen out loud before interviewing
Laboratory intern screens typically include a technical component, analytical problem-solving, instrument troubleshooting scenarios, or data interpretation exercises depending on the specialty. Practice explaining your reasoning as you work through problems, not just arriving at the answer, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as what you conclude.
Target structured laboratory internship programs first
Larger employers in pharmaceutical, environmental, and government research run cohort or rotational programs built to train people new to the field. These programs offer structured mentorship and defined project tracks, but they recruit early and fill fast, identify the ones that fit your specialty and submit in the first application wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 71% of the laboratory internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type so you are not reviewing roles you cannot accept.
Laboratory Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a laboratory internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For laboratory candidates, a documented lab notebook, published experimental results, or a portfolio of completed analyses gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a laboratory internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For laboratory interns, what actually drives it is performance on real bench or analytical work, available headcount on the team, and how early you signal interest before the return-offer window closes. Treat every project as evidence of what you can do without counting on a guaranteed outcome.
When should I apply for laboratory internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers at pharmaceutical, biotech, and research firms recruit their summer laboratory cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to actual start dates, so openings appear year-round and monitoring listings consistently pays off rather than applying in a single sprint.
Are laboratory internships paid?
Most professional laboratory internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Stipend-only or unpaid arrangements do exist at some nonprofit research institutions, so read each listing carefully before applying.
What should a laboratory internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. List two or three complete, documented projects that name the instruments, software, or methods used and where to see the work, for laboratory candidates, that means linked experimental reports, published analyses, or a research poster. Add relevant coursework in chemistry, biology, or instrumentation, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote laboratory internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 29% of the laboratory internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get laboratory internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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