Intern

IFF is a global leader in flavors fragrances food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

Health & Biosciences: Channeling our passion for nature and bioscience into sustainable lifeenhancing technologies that power innovative solutions across healthcare food consumer and industrial markets.

The role is based in Leiden the Netherlands (onsite role). You will join a multidisciplinary motivated and collaborative R&D team where together we can achieve meaningful scientific impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

Our Leiden R&D team consists of approximately 35 colleagues representing 13 nationalities and has a strong track record in protein and enzyme engineering. The team develops microbial production strains (bacteria yeast and filamentous fungi) and engineers enzymes for applications across food & beverages biofuels home & personal care animal feed paper & textile processing and biomaterials. Recently the team expanded into enzymatic engineering of polymers for sustainable food packaging applications.

Where Youll Make a Difference

• Perform biochemical characterization of enzyme variants including purification enzyme kinetics and product analysis
• Support enzyme secretion optimization by improving expression pathways using molecular biology toolboxes
• Contribute to microbial strain development involving bacteria yeast and filamentous fungi
• Analyze experimental data and support modelling using stateoftheart bioinformatics tools
• Assist with automation workflow improvements in a robotic laboratory environment
• Collaborate with scientists across biochemistry molecular biology analytical chemistry material sciences and fermentation
• Document experimental work and contribute to scientific reporting
• Actively participate in a multidisciplinary R&D environment focused on sustainable innovation

What Makes You the Right Fit

• You are currently enrolled in an HBO or MSc program in Biotechnology Biochemistry Molecular Biology or a related field
• You are available for an internship of at least 6 months
• Handson laboratory experience and a strong interest in experimental research
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for enzyme development and protein engineering
• Ability to work accurately and independently in a laboratory setting
• Comfortable working with data analysis and scientific documentation
• Strong communication skills in English both written and verbal
• A proactive mindset and willingness to learn in a multidisciplinary team

How Would You Stand Out

• Experience with enzyme kinetics protein purification or microbial fermentation
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools or automation workflows
• Interest in sustainable biotechnology or polymer engineering applications

Why Choose Us

• Internship compensation in line with IFF guidelines
• Handson experience in an internationally recognized R&D center
• Exposure to reallife industrial biotechnology projects
• Collaboration in a diverse inclusive and international team
• Access to advanced laboratory facilities and technologies
• A supportive learning environment focused on development and growth