R&D Laboratory Intern – Vaccines Technical Development - Fort Dodge, IA (Summer 2027)

Elanco • Fort Dodge, IA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The R&D Laboratory Intern will support Elanco’s Vaccines Technical Development organization at its Fort Dodge, Iowa site through hands-on laboratory work supporting new and existing animal health products. The intern will own the progress of an innovative project on the Analytical Development Team and work with scientists to design and execute experiments, generate and interpret data, and contribute to robust in vitro assay development for companion and/or farm animals.

The internship is project-based and focused on business-critical needs, providing meaningful experience and an opportunity to contribute to Elanco’s success over the summer. Interns receive networking opportunities, assigned mentors, and learning resources. Financial support and assistance securing housing are available. High-performing interns may be considered for full-time roles or additional internships, depending on business needs.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a STEM degree-seeking program, such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical science, molecular biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
• Pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree.
• Must return to a degree-seeking program for the fall semester after the internship.
• Hands-on laboratory experience gained through independent research, teaching labs, or a prior internship.
• Comfort working at the bench, including pipetting, solution preparation, aseptic technique, and basic instrumentation, and following written protocols.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for data organization, analysis, and presentation.
• Scientific curiosity and a desire to innovate.
• Learning agility and willingness to acquire new techniques and concepts quickly.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical colleagues.

Nice To Haves

• Expected graduation between December 2027 and August 2028, with the intention of entering industry after degree completion.
• More than one semester of sustained research experience in an undergraduate or graduate STEM laboratory, with demonstrated technical growth.
• Analytical development skills such as chromatography, bioassay, or ELISA.
• Hands-on experience with biologics such as proteins, peptides, or monoclonal antibodies.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture or molecular biology techniques.
• Familiarity with statistical or data analysis tools such as R, JMP, Python, or Minitab, and/or data management systems.
• Ability to work exceptionally well independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with appropriate supervision.
• Demonstrated interest in animal health, sustainability, veterinary medicine, or data-driven R&D approaches.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly present scientific results.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced research environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute hands-on experiments in an R&D laboratory while following established safety protocols and guidelines.
• Prepare solutions, reagents, media, and test articles.
• Operate relevant instrumentation.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, summarize findings, and propose next steps with the supervisor and project team.
• Perform independent laboratory work under appropriate supervision, including troubleshooting and optimizing experimental procedures.
• Recommend experimental design, instrumentation, or process improvements that may enhance robustness, efficiency, or scalability.
• Participate in regular check-ins and present progress and results to the supervisor and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Document experimental plans, procedures, and results in laboratory notebooks, maintaining high standards and data integrity.
• Present final project objectives, methods, results, and key learnings orally to R&D colleagues and the intern community.

Benefits

• Professional development through networking events, assigned mentors, and learning resources.
• Financial support and help securing housing.
• High-performing interns may be considered for full-time roles or additional internships, based on business needs.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed