R&D intern - Italy

Actual Talent is the talent acquisition consultancy that offers Executive Search, RPO and Talent Solutions.

About the client:

Our client is a global food company, operates in over 50 countries across Europe and Africa, offering more than 30 local brands.

Job description: Are you a recent graduate passionate about food innovation and eager to gain hands-on experience in Research & Development? We are looking for an intern to join our R&D team and contribute to innovative projects in the food industry.

Key Responsibilities

• The selected candidate will support the team in research, product development and industrialization activities, contributing to national and international projects.

Main activities include:

• Developing laboratory-scale prototypes of fortified food matrices.

• Supporting prototype scale-up and participating in industrial trials.

• Presenting project results in internal and external forums and meetings.

• Supporting project reporting activities, including budget tracking, KPI monitoring and project documentation.

• Collaborating with internal and external laboratories to design and manage product shelf-life studies.

• Designing and carrying out finished product stability studies.

• Organizing and managing sensory evaluation and tasting sessions.

• Coordinating with partner companies and research centers to ensure project milestones and timelines are met.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science and Technology or related fields such as Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Chemistry or equivalent.

• Interest in food fortification and product development.

• Basic knowledge of microbiology principles.

• Familiarity with laboratory practices and procedures, preferably gained through experimental thesis work or laboratory projects.

• Availability to travel nationally and internationally (approximately 10%).

• Strong initiative, curiosity and willingness to learn.

• English proficiency at B1 level or above.

• Fluent Italian.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous formulation experience in academic or industrial settings.

• Knowledge of food fortification concepts and applications.

• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DoE) methodologies.

What We Offer

• A 6-month extracurricular internship, with the possibility of extension.

• A monthly allowance of €700 plus access to the company canteen.

• A hybrid working model, with 3 days on-site and 2 days working remotely.

• Opportunity to contribute to national and international research projects.

• Exposure to strategic and transformational business initiatives.

• Involvement in innovative, high-value-added projects.

• A collaborative environment focused on professional growth and continuous learning.

• Location: Agrate Brianza (MB), Italy