R&D Intern in Materials and Chemical Technology (m/f/d)

chemconnect; Zürich; On-site; CHF 17,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

qCella AG at ETH Zürich, Campus Hönggerberg invites an R&D Intern in Materials and Chemical Technology to join a tight-knit startup environment focused on innovative heating mats and cellulose-based materials. The internship is 6–12 months, starting Fall 2025, and offers hands-on work on prototype synthesis reactors, quality control setups, and data-driven improvements.

You will collaborate with a small team, document technical work, and gain experience in scale-up strategies while developing

Qualifications

• Students in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Process Engineer preferred (good chemical knowhow is required)
• Experience in project work is an advantage
• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• Work permit in Switzerland, Citizen of a Schengen member country or students currently enrolled in a Swiss university with a mandatory internship requirement as part of their curriculum
• High social skills, good team player, ability to work independently, and high sense of responsibility

Responsibilities

• Design and fabrication of prototype synthesis reactor components
• Development and optimization of quality control measurement setups
• Conducting experimental runs for process improvements
• Data analysis and performance evaluation of prototypes
• Contributing to scale-up strategies and optimization studies
• Troubleshooting and innovative problem solving
• Creation of technical documentation

Job description

• Full Time
• Internship
• ETH Zürich, Campus Hönggerberg (ZH)
• Posted 1 year ago
• qCella AG

Description

ETH Zürich, Campus Hönggerberg (ZH)

6 to 12 months | temporary | start fall 2025

About Us

At qCella, we revolutionize the way products are heated, such as automotive interiors, wearable technology, and pain-relieving solutions. As a pioneering hardware startup from ETH Zurich, we are committed to introducing innovative materials for resistive heating applications and beyond. Our mission is to replace the outdated heating wire technology with our cutting-edge, homogenously heating, paper-thin, flexible, and easily shape-customizable heating mats, offering unparalleled versatility and efficiency.

Position Overview

Are you passionate about innovation, sustainability, and technology? Join our dynamic R&D team as an intern and gain hands-on experience in a start-up environment that’s shaping the future of heating technology. This internship provides a unique opportunity to work on exciting projects in a collaborative and forward-thinking setting.

Your Tasks

• Design and fabrication of prototype synthesis reactor components
• Development and optimization of quality control measurement setups
• Conducting experimental runs for process improvements
• Data analysis and performance evaluation of prototypes
• Contributing to scale-up strategies and optimization studies
• Troubleshooting and innovative problem solving
• Creation of technical documentation

Your Profile

• Students in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Process Engineer preferred (good chemical knowhow is required)
• Experience in project work is an advantage
• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• Work permit in Switzerland, Citizen of a Schengen member country or students currently enrolled in a Swiss university with a mandatory internship requirement as part of their curriculum
• High social skills, good team player, ability to work independently, and high sense of responsibility

Our Offer

• Challenging and interesting internship with focus on product development and upscaling
• Fair compensation comparable to big corporations
• Exciting behind-the-scenes look at a startup environment
• Friendly and fun team

Application

Join qCella AG as an R&D Intern in Materials and Chemical Technology and contribute to exciting projects in a dynamic, small-team environment. Apply with your CV and a motivation letter explaining why you want to intern at qCella.

About QCella AG

At qCella, we revolutionize the way products are heated, such as in automotive interiors, for personal heating, and in pain-relieving solutions. As a pioneering hardware startup from ETH Zurich, we are committed to introducing innovative cellulose-based materials for resistive heating applications and beyond. Our mission is to replace the outdated heating wire technology with our homogenously heating, paper-thin, and easily shape-customizable heating mats, offering unparalleled versatility and efficiency. The qCella heating mats are made from our patent-pending cellulose-copper hybrid fibers using a papermaking process.