Research & Development Intern

Company Description

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Job Description

Overall Purpose and Objective of Position

This position is that of a Research & Development Intern to work with the R&D team on experimental and data‑driven exploration of plant protein ingredients. The intern will support protein extraction, purification, and characterization efforts, and may also contribute to data analysis or computational exploration that informs experimental design and decision‑making. This role is intended for students seeking hands‑on research experience in an industrial R&D environment and is scoped as a learning‑focused internship integrating experimental development with computational workflows.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Main responsibilities:

• Execute laboratory experiments related to plant protein extraction, purification, and characterization at bench scale 

• Collect, analyze, and interpret experimental datasets to support process optimization and hypothesis generation 

• Support exploratory data analysis or basic computational workflows (e.g., scripting, modeling, or literature‑driven in‑silico exploration) as they relate to experimental R&D questions 

• Contribute to experimental design under guidance by integrating learnings from lab results, scientific literature, and data analysis 

• Document experimental procedures, results, and observations clearly and in a timely manner 

• Maintain good laboratory organization, hygiene, and safety practices

Role requirements:

• Comfort working in a hands‑on laboratory environment, with interest in understanding underlying mechanisms through data 

• Willingness to work across both experimental and analytical tasks depending on project needs 

• Curiosity‑driven mindset with the ability to learn new tools and approaches

Qualifications

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

Basic qualification:

• Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in food science, chemical engineering, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a related life‑science or engineering field.

Experience

Basic qualification:

• Hands‑on laboratory experience gained through coursework, academic research, or prior internships is preferred but not required.
• Experience working with experimental data, including data organization, basic analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Exposure to scientific computing, scripting, or data analysis tools used in an academic or research setting is a plus, particularly when applied to experimental or life‑science problems.
• Demonstrated ability to follow experimental protocols while also engaging in critical thinking, troubleshooting, and iterative improvement of methods.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

Technical / Scientific

• Basic hands‑on laboratory experience through coursework, research projects, or internships.
• Fundamental understanding of experimental design, data collection, and result interpretation.
• Interest in protein chemistry, biomolecules, or ingredient functionality.
• Comfort working with experimental datasets and performing basic data analysis.

Analytical / Computational (Applied, not software‑focused)

• Exposure to data analysis tools or scripting environments (e.g., Excel, Python, MATLAB, R) applied to scientific or engineering problems is a plus.
• Ability and interest in using data, literature, or simple computational analyses to inform experimental decisions.
• Knowledge of advanced algorithms, machine learning, or software development is not required.

Work Style / Mindset

• Willingness to work in a hands‑on laboratory environment and adapt to evolving project needs.
• Ability to work independently within defined experimental or analytical frameworks.
• Strong problem‑solving, critical‑thinking, and organizational skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation and reporting.
• Comfortable balancing bench work