R&D Intern

Saturn Petcare Inc • Terre Haute, IN

6h

About The Position

The intern will support the team with various tasks and help with day-to-day operations. They will gain hands-on experience and exposure to different aspects of the organization’s workflow. They must promote and maintain the Company’s mission, values, and culture.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required
• Must be a student currently enrolled at a university
• Currently pursuing a degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Strong interest in the pet food industry, particularly in product development and formulation.
• Basic knowledge of food science, ingredients, and processing techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a passion for research and innovation.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
• Ability to use MS Office Suite is required
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedural manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and ability to apply concepts such as: fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk and hear.
• The employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 15 pounds, frequently lift and / or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

• German language speaking skills is another advantage.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the formulation and development of new wet pet food products, working with the R&D team to refine recipes and look for novel ingredients.
• Conduct laboratory and bench-scale trials to evaluate product texture, nutritional values, processability, and overall quality.
• Assist in preparing samples for internal and external testing, ensuring all documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, production, and supply chain, to optimize products and processing.
• Contribute to the research of emerging ingredients, trends, and technologies that could enhance product innovation.
• Maintain detailed records of experiments, formulations, and findings to ensure compliance with AAFCO.
• Participate in the troubleshooting and problem-solving of production or product-related issues.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED