Placement Student – Food and Feed

Centre for Process Innovation Limited; Redcar; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading innovation organization in the UK is looking for a Placement Student to join the Food and Feed team. This role involves developing and supporting fermentation processes to produce innovative foods and ingredients. Candidates should be pursuing a degree in relevant biological sciences and possess analytical skills alongside a strong communication aptitude. The position offers opportunities to work in a multidisciplinary setting and includes benefits like holidays and life assurance.

Benefits

Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays

Life assurance and accident insurance schemes

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant scientific field required.
• Understanding of microbial processes and analytical skills essential.
• Ability to use common software tools like Word and Excel is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of scalable food processes.
• Assist in bioproduct recovery and purification operations.
• Set up and monitor fermentation processes.
• Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.

Skills

Knowledgeable in microbial cultivation and fermentation

Good analytical and numerical skills

Strong communication skills

Experience in IT packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Education

Studying towards a degree in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Job description

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions areality. We’re ateam of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world abetter place.

Why this role is important for CPI’swork

This is a fantastic opportunity to join CPI as a Placement Student within our Food and Feed team. You will work in a multidisciplinary environment to develop precision fermentation and biomass fermentation processes aimed at producing novel foods and functional ingredients. Your contribution will support the delivery of innovative projects through preparation, research, testing, and analysis, ensuring smooth laboratory operations and enabling scientific staff to focus on technical delivery.

• Support the development of scalable microbial and cell culture food processes from shake flask to 10,000‑litre bioreactor scale, including submerged and solid‑state processes.
• Assist in process development and scale‑up of bioproduct recovery and purification operations.
• Set up, operate, and monitor microbial fermentation processes under batch, fed‑batch, and continuous conditions. Maintain bioreactors and escal. issues impacting performance.
• Contribute to experimental design (DOE) to study variable effects on fermentation performance.
• Ensure compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE), GMP, Data Integrity, and quality standards.
• Perform general laboratory housekeeping and manage purchasing of chemicals and equipment.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to understand project needs and deliver agreed outcomes.

The person we are seeking

We are looking for someone who is:

• Studying towards a degree in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Knowledgeable in microbial cultivation and fermentation, with good analytical and numerical skills.
• Experienced in IT packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• A strong communicator who values collaboration and continuous learning.

Desirable

Experience with aseptic techniques, bioreactor operation, microscopy, and preparation of microbial growth media.

What does CPI offer you?

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes

Please note that this role is fixed term for 12 months, beginning in July 2026.

Please note that students must be studying at a UK university to be eligible for this role, and CPI cannot offer sponsorship for this role.

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.