Research & Development (R&D) Intern

Job Description

Research & Development (R&D) Intern | Mizkan America
The Tone:
This is an internship at Mizkan America, located in Schaumburg, IL, at the company’s Corporate Headquarters. Mizkan America is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company with over 220 years of heritage in bringing flavor to life. As one of the leading makers of vinegars, condiments, and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America serves retail, foodservice, specialty-Asian, and food-ingredient trade channels through its 12 manufacturing facilities. This R&D Intern role is crucial for supporting product innovation and development, aligning with Mizkan America’s commitment to continuously challenging the status quo and delivering the finest products for customers. The company fosters an environment of transparency and accountability, seeking out and implementing ideas for improvement from all its employees, and is dedicated to maximizing the potential of its team members.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Location: In-person, Schaumburg, IL
• Pay: $20 hourly
• Team: Collaborates with cross-functional team members
• Mission: Supports product innovation, development, specifications, and processing by providing hands-on experience in product conceptualization, experimental design, and execution of lab-scale and pilot-plant trials, while gaining exposure to office, laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Suite of applications

What You’ll Actually Do
• Emulsion Development: Support oil-in-water emulsion product development through literature reviews and application of scientific principles.
• Product Evaluation: Execute, document, and interpret analytical testing to evaluate product performance.
• Trial Execution: Assist with experimental design, lab-scale prototypes, and pilot-plant trials.
• Ingredient Sourcing: Participate in supplier interactions and trade shows to explore new ingredients and technologies.
• Technical Communication: Communicate science-based findings and recommendations while considering potential business implications.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Food Science & Technology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: No specific years of experience required.
• Skills: Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills; critical thinking with a creative, solutions-oriented mindset; self-motivated, organized, and capable of managing multiple priorities. Also required are adaptability and resilience to challenges and feedback, the ability to integrate business considerations into technical decision-making, and proficiency with Microsoft Suite applications.