Research And Development Internships
Research and development internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career candidates hands-on project experience, mentorship from working researchers and engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Food & Beverage, Medical Devices, and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, with SIG SAUER, Labcorp, and Entegris among the employers posting roles now.
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About SunOpta
SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers’ growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.
Job Summary:
This is a 12-week program where interns will apply the knowledge and skills they've gained in the classroom by working alongside professionals at SunOpta. As part of the team, interns will gain valuable hands-on experience, contribute to meaningful projects, and improve processes. They will also gain insight into the latest trends in the food industry while helping to create new and innovative products.
Essential Functions of the Job:
- R&D INTERNSHIP
- Improve current product (beverages, fruit snacks, or ingredients) yield and quality
- Conduct bench-top and pilot experiments, sample preparation, analytical testing, and product evaluations
- Support sensory testing, shelf-life studies, and data collection
- Assist on process and product documentation
- Assist with ingredient research, literature review, and technical documentation.
- Collaborate with other cross-functional teams like QA, Engineering, Procurement and Marketing
Minimum Qualifications:
- Candidates must be working towards a bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, Microbiology or related field.
- Candidates must be at least a sophomore in college and actively pursuing a degree.
- Graduate students will be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous internship experience.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Additional Considerations:
- Travel: Travel may be required to various SunOpta locations for plant trials or other job-related functions
- Location: This position will be located at our Corporate Office in Eden Prairie, MN.
- This is a 12-week program, running 5/17/27 through 8/6/27.
- Pay Rate: $20.00/hour.
- Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED
Job Details
About SunOpta
SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers’ growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.
Job Summary:
This is a 12-week program where interns will apply the knowledge and skills they've gained in the classroom by working alongside professionals at SunOpta. As part of the team, interns will gain valuable hands-on experience, contribute to meaningful projects, and improve processes. They will also gain insight into the latest trends in the food industry while helping to create new and innovative products.
Essential Functions of the Job:
- R&D INTERNSHIP
- Improve current product (beverages, fruit snacks, or ingredients) yield and quality
- Conduct bench-top and pilot experiments, sample preparation, analytical testing, and product evaluations
- Support sensory testing, shelf-life studies, and data collection
- Assist on process and product documentation
- Assist with ingredient research, literature review, and technical documentation.
- Collaborate with other cross-functional teams like QA, Engineering, Procurement and Marketing
Minimum Qualifications:
- Candidates must be working towards a bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, Microbiology or related field.
- Candidates must be at least a sophomore in college and actively pursuing a degree.
- Graduate students will be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous internship experience.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Additional Considerations:
- Travel: Travel may be required to various SunOpta locations for plant trials or other job-related functions
- Location: This position will be located at our Corporate Office in Eden Prairie, MN.
- This is a 12-week program, running 5/17/27 through 8/6/27.
- Pay Rate: $20.00/hour.
- Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED
Job Details
Research And Development Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Medical Devices
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Tips for Your Research And Development Internship Search
Apply earlier than the role's start date suggests
Large employers running structured research and development cohorts recruit for summer positions the preceding fall, often closing applications before the calendar year turns. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings regularly from late summer onward so you don't miss the first application wave at companies you actually want.
Build documented project evidence before you apply
Research and development intern hiring teams want proof of how you work, not a list of classes. Complete two or three projects end to end, experiments with recorded results, code repositories with documentation, engineering designs or CAD files, or published analyses, and make them accessible so a recruiter can assess your process, not just your credentials.
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. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts in parallel, combining both channels reaches opportunities that never appear through a single route.
Practice the actual research and development intern screen out loud
Know the format before your first interview. Research and development screens vary by discipline: engineering roles often include technical problem-solving on methods or systems, data-focused roles use analytical or coding exercises, and research roles may ask you to walk through a past project in detail. Practice explaining your reasoning aloud, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as the final answer.
Target structured internship programs built for new entrants
Many larger employers run formal research and development internship cohorts, rotational programs, university partnership tracks, or lab-specific pipelines, designed specifically for candidates without prior industry experience. These programs recruit early and fill competitively. Identify the ones that match your discipline and apply in the first wave rather than waiting until general applications open.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 75% of the research and development internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start reviewing listings on Migrate Mate, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles you can actually accept.
Research And Development Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a research and development internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited professional experience at the intern level. For research and development candidates, a documented project with methodology, tools used, and results gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications to companies with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a research and development internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for research and development interns is performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and return-offer timing relative to your graduation date. Position for it by delivering on your assigned work and building relationships with your team, without counting on it as a certainty.
When should I apply for research and development internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, especially those running structured research or engineering cohorts, recruit for summer internships the preceding fall, meaning applications open in August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round and it pays to check regularly rather than waiting for a single season.
Are research and development internships paid?
Most professional research and development internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show pay where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements are rare in industry settings and more common in academic or nonprofit research contexts, so read each listing carefully.
What should a research and development internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Highlight two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools, methods, and outcomes, for research and development candidates, that means linked repositories, published analyses, lab reports, or CAD and design portfolios, depending on your discipline. Add relevant coursework, list technical skills clearly, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote research and development internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 25% of the research and development internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early once you decide what works for your situation. Use the work-type filter to see only remote or hybrid listings and avoid sorting through roles you cannot realistically take.
What is a research rotation internship in research and development?
A research rotation program places interns across two or three different labs, teams, or project areas during a single internship term. These programs are designed for candidates new to the field and give broad exposure before a full-time specialization decision. They recruit early, fill competitively, and typically require candidates to rank or select rotation preferences during the application process, so apply in the first wave.
Can international students get research and development 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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