Professional Development Program (PDP) Internship – Data Science Summer 2026

Job Description

About Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Germany. In North America, BASF has approximately 16,000 employees and reported sales of $19.7 billion in 2024.

BASF SE, the global parent company based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is the world’s leading chemical company. Its ambition is to be the preferred chemical company enabling customers’ green transformation. The company combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, aiming for a more sustainable future through chemistry. With around 112,000 employees worldwide, BASF contributes to the success of customers in nearly all sectors and countries. Its core businesses include Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care, while standalone businesses are bundled in Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions.

BASF is committed to creating an exceptional workplace that values diversity, employee well-being, and development. This commitment has been recognized through numerous awards:
• 2024-25: Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health (Mental Health America).
• 2024: Business Group on Health’s Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being award.
• 2025: Recognized by PLANSPONSOR for having a Best In Class 401(k) Plan.
• Ranked among the Top 50 Employers by Minority Engineer Magazine readers.
• Placed 22nd on Fair360’s (formerly Diversity Inc) 2024 Top 50 Companies List.
• Named one of America’s Best Large Employers and one of the World’s Best Employers by Forbes and Statista.
• Achieved a top score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index for the 11th consecutive year, earning the 2025 “Equality 100 Award” for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

For more information about university careers, candidates can visit www.basf.com/universitycareers.

Privacy Statement: BASF prioritizes security and data privacy. It will never request financial information via email, text, or social media, nor send checks for equipment or request payment during the application process. Fraud should be reported to myhr@basf.com.

Pay Transparency: BASF is committed to pay transparency. The competitive pay range for this role is $1,907 – $2,340 semi-monthly. Actual pay will be determined based on education, certifications, experience, and other job-related factors.

Equal Employment Opportunities: BASF is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, citizenship, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Job Description

This job posting is for a Professional Development Program (PDP) Internship – Data Science Summer 2026 at BASF Corporation, promoted by Lensa.

Lensa’s Role: Lensa is a career site that helps job seekers find jobs in the US. It is not a staffing firm or agency and does not hire directly for these jobs. Lensa promotes jobs on LinkedIn on behalf of its direct clients, recruitment ad agencies, and marketing partners, partnering with DirectEmployers for this BASF Corporation job. Clicking “Apply Now” or “Read more” on Lensa redirects users to the job board/employer site, where information collected is subject to their terms and privacy notice.

Program Overview:
• Duration: A 10 to 12-week summer internship.
• Focus: Immersion in BASF’s dynamic Production, Manufacturing, Business, and Research and Development (R&D) teams.
• Objective: To provide hands-on experience, working on impactful projects that support business objectives, and collaborating with seasoned professionals to gain insights into data science processes and strategies.
• Career Growth: Designed to accelerate career growth by offering leadership opportunities and strategic insights critical for a successful future in data science.
• Dynamic Environment: Interns will engage in diverse challenges, collaborate with cross-functional teams, adapt to changing situations, and innovate/problem-solve in real-time.
• Location/Relocation: Applicants must be mobile-minded and open to relocation. Interns may be placed at any BASF site across the country (potential locations include Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana) to enhance exposure to diverse business environments. All assignments are in-person or hybrid.

Key Areas of Impact / Responsibilities:
During the PDP internship, participants will:
• Work within various areas across the organization, including Production, Manufacturing, Business (Sales & Marketing), and Research and Development (R&D) teams.
• Collaborate closely with talented data scientists to gain experience with the technical and scientific aspects of plant engineering.
• Work with mentors and gain exposure to senior leadership through high-impact initiatives.
• Be “hands-on” and have the opportunity to lead high-value projects.
• Execute deliverables during all phases of an analytics project, from project definition to completion.
• Develop appropriate machine learning and optimization models.
• Collaborate with members from other functions to gather and validate necessary data.
• Present project results and benefits to key stakeholders and internal clients.

Professional Development Opportunities:
• Exposure to Tools: Gain experience with data science applications and digital tools such as Python, R, RShinv, Dash, Flask, HTML, Git, SQL, Tableau, PowerBI, AWS, Databricks, Azure, Virtual environments, and Docker containers, among others.
• Presentation: At the end of the internship, interns will present their summer project to fellow interns, BASF employees, and senior leaders, showcasing their impact and contributions.
• Mentorship: Each participant will be assigned a peer mentor, who are full-time program participants, to guide them throughout the internship. This helps develop expertise and networking abilities at senior levels, potentially establishing long-term mentoring relationships.
• Networking:
• Opportunity to participate in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at their site.
• Participation in a week-long orientation at BASF headquarters in New Jersey, providing opportunities to engage with alumni and executive leadership.
• Collaboration with full-time P/LDP program participants to organize and participate in a community service volunteer day in celebration of National Intern Day.

Qualifications (What BASF is Looking For):
The ideal candidate is a student with a unique blend of skills and experiences:
• Majors: Data Science, Data Analytics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other related Engineering Majors.
• Graduation Date: Must have a graduation date between December 2026 and July 2029.
• GPA: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with tools such as Python and R programming.
• Knowledge: Basic knowledge of machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, and new technologies.
• Authorization to Work: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without restrictions.
• Mobility: Willing to relocate anywhere in the country during and after the program, as all assignments are in-person or hybrid.
• Experience:
• Demonstrated previous leadership experience and academic achievement.
• Active participation in extracurricular activities and on-campus organizations.
• Previous internship/co-op experience is preferred.
• Strong interest in the manufacturing or chemical industry.
• Project management experience is also beneficial.

Post-Internship Opportunities:
Interns will be assessed for a potential returning internship offer or full-time position in BASF’s 2-year rotational program. Mobility is crucial for these potential future roles.