Biotechnology Intern (Konolfingen, CH)

Location: Konolfingen, Switzerland Work model: On-site Contract type / duration: Internship – 6 months Start date: February or March 2027

Be a force for good and transform your potential into something extraordinary.

As a Biotechnology Intern at Nestlé Research & Development in Konolfingen, your mission will be to contribute to the development and optimisation of fermentation and downstream processes for probiotic bacteria.

You will join the Science & Technology department and support science-based projects focused on producing probiotics for nutritional products, including their transformation from liquid cultures into shelf-stable powders. Working with laboratory-scale bioreactors and pilot-scale equipment, you will gain hands-on experience across the bioprocessing journey, from fermentation and drying trials to microbiological analysis and data interpretation.

This is a highly practical internship combining wet-lab experimentation with data processing. Approximately 70–80% of your work will take place in the laboratory.

How you’ll make an impact as a Biotechnology Intern

• Support the planning and execution of fermentations with probiotic bacteria using laboratory-scale bioreactors, while contributing to the optimisation of fermentation parameters and manufacturing processes

• Help plan and conduct laboratory drying trials, assessing different strategies and process parameters to limit bacterial losses during production and throughout product shelf life

• Analyse probiotic samples using microbiological methods and contribute to the exploration of new technologies related to probiotic bioprocessing

• Process, compile and interpret experimental data

• Document and communicate experimental results through reports and presentations, discuss the next steps with scientific colleagues, and support key Science & Technology projects

What will make you successful

• Bachelor’s or Master’s student, or recent graduate, in Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Food Science or a related scientific field

• Good understanding of microbiology and microbial growth, combined with a strong interest in industrial biotechnology, fermentation and bioprocess development

• First practical experience with fermentation, bioreactors, microbiological methods or laboratory experimentation through academic projects, practical courses or a previous internship

• Confidence working with experimental data using Excel; experience with Python, R, MATLAB or another programming language for data analysis and visualization is a strong advantage

• Fluency in English is required, while knowledge of German is an advantage.

• A hands-on, curious and structured approach, with the autonomy, collaboration, communication and resilience needed to investigate problems and learn from unexpected experimental results

At Nestlé Research & Development, science and technology come together to turn ideas into solutions with real-world impact.

Our benefits are designed to support your growth and wellbeing, so you can thrive at work and in life:

• Hands-on experience across fermentation, downstream processing and probiotic manufacturing

• Exposure to laboratory-scale bioreactors and potentially pilot-scale processing

• Opportunities to strengthen both your experimental and data-analysis capabilities

• Close collaboration with experienced scientists working on industrial biotechnology projects

• Learning and development opportunities, healthcare contribution, access to the Employee Assistance Programme and attractive employee discounts

What to expect from our hiring process

We are committed to an inclusive and respectful hiring experience and are happy to provide reasonable accommodations if needed. Our workplaces are fully accessible and supported by a strong safety culture, with modern installations and procedures to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

The hiring process typically includes a video interview with Talent Acquisition, followed by interviews with members of the hiring team and a final discussion and offer. We review applications as they are received and may close the role once a strong list of relevant candidates has been identified, so we encourage you to apply early. All information is treated confidentially.

Ready to start your career journey with us?

Apply now and transform your potential into something extraordinary.