R&D Global Research Internship - Taste The Future Program Reading, UK

Mondelēz International; Reading; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Mondelēz International in Reading, UK is offering a 12-month R&D internship in Global Research. You will work on real projects from day one, contributing to the future of snacking and consumer science.

You will gain hands-on experience in lab work, data analysis and collaboration with scientists, engineers and suppliers, with mentorship and regular reviews.

Starting salary £23,793, and applications close 12 October 2026; eligibility notes apply for visa sponsorship considerations.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a scientific field with strong grades.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced R&D environment and learn quickly.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lab experiments from benchtop to pilot plant with hands-on tools.
• Deliver a personal project contributing to fundamental knowledge.
• Coordinate sensory assessments and support sensory initiatives.
• Analyze data and present findings clearly to stakeholders.
• Follow quality and food safety procedures.

Skills

Communication

Technical rigour

Initiative

Agility

Collaborative mindset

Creativity

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s in Food Science or Chemistry

Job description

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It Matter.

As an organization we are committed to developing the next generation of Makers and Bakers. Joining us at an early career stage in our fast paced and ever changing environment will enable you to do more, learn more and grow more. You will be encouraged to step outside your comfort zone– you may even surprise yourself! We will ensure you are given the support you need to be at your best and enable you to be yourself and bring passion and personality. Here you can lean in and speak up and bring your own flavor.

Big enough to reach the top. Small enough to help you get off the ground.

Are you studying towards a Food Science, Chemistry, or other scientific discipline (e.g. Biology, Biochemistry, Food & Nutrition, Physical Sciences, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering)? Do you want a taste of the career you could have with Mondelez? Sink your teeth into one of our sweet internships.

Our R&D Internships - Taste The Future Program UK are 12 months long (although some roles have the flexibility to be shorter) and during your placement, we’ll make you an integral part of our team and give you a real job – with real responsibilities – from day one. We hope to help you expand your horizons and encourage your personal and professional development.

We want to make sure you get the most from your time with us. That’s why once you join we’ll work out ambitious but achievable goals for you. Then through the support of a mentor and regular reviews with your manager, we’ll help you achieve them.

Life in Research and Development Quality (RDQ):

As an intern in R&D at Mondelēz International, you’ll take ownership of projects. You will contribute to the future of snacking by keeping the consumer at the heart of our innovation. Spending time in our food processing innovation space and labs making and testing prototypes, applying your own hypotheses as well as past knowledge within the business, deliverables may include producing technical reports and presentations, sharing insights with stakeholders and fostering transparency and collaboration. You will have the opportunity to work with the broader RDQ community, business functions, and external suppliers, building your network and confidence. Beyond your primary project, you may support ongoing activities, gaining diverse experiences and contributing to a sustainable future. For some roles, occasional international travel may be required.

About the role:

Global Research is a function that sits at the heart of R&D, combining deep scientific expertise with real-world application to shape the future of food. We are a globally connected function that bridges fundamental research with product development — translating ingredient science into consumer-relevant solutions at scale. We act as a strategic research partner to product development teams worldwide, providing the foundational knowledge and tools that accelerate innovation pipelines, and partnering on complex problems to be solved.

As a member of the Global Research department, you’ll be at the heart of supporting the next big breakthroughs, investigating fundamental science and technologies that can impact all our beloved brands from chocolate and biscuits to spreads and gummies. You’ll own and deliver a project, or series of projects, supporting the research team that you’ll be a part of. If you're passionate about science, have a knack for problem-solving, and crave hands‑on experience, this 12-month internship in Reading, is your golden ticket.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lab Magic: Plan and execute experiments of all sizes, from benchtop to pilot plant, getting hands-on with the tools and techniques that bring our ideas to life. You will also support in the running of on-going experiments and testing that are key to Mondelēz’s next big breakthroughs whether that is in sustainability, supply chain resilience, the science of elevating the consumers experience, or identifying the next big ingredients we will use.

• Personal Project: Scope and deliver a project across the internship that adds to Mondelez’s fundamental scientific knowledge…. and have the opportunity to share this with product teams and senior stakeholders.

• Sensory Science: Coordinate informal sensory assessments to help refine our research work and support in the on-going critical to business sensory initiatives.

• Problem Solving: Work autonomously to analyse, interpret, and present scientific data clearly and concisely. Use creative thinking and problem-solving techniques to challenge assumptions, innovate, and build on existing ideas.

• Quality Champion: Follow quality and food safety procedures, maintaining the highest standards of work and H&S.

What We're Looking For:

• Education: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or other scientific discipline (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Food & Nutrition, Physical Sciences, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering) with a predicted grade of a 2:1 - (or equivalent).

• Communication skills: Demonstrates strong analytical, communication and presentation abilities.

• Technical Rigour: Able to apply scientific approach to new situations whilst maintaining a well thought out approach.

• Initiative: Self-motivated, hands-on, enthusiastic, and quick to learn. A pro-active and highly motivated team player who thrives on new challenges, building relationships, and working autonomously.

• Agility: Able to manage multiple tasks, adapt quickly, and respond to feedback constructively.

• Collaborative Mindset: Comfortable working in diverse teams with project managers, marketers, scientists, engineers, and suppliers.

• Creativity & Curiosity: You love to explore, ideate, and challenge the norm. You’re not afraid to ask, “what if?” or “why?”. You show eagerness to grow and learn and bring fresh ideas.

Additional desirable skills

• Passion/inquisitiveness about food, food trends, nutrition, wellbeing and food production.

Additional note

• These roles are primarily based in Reading at Mondelez’s Reading Science Centre, unlike most other R&D roles which are based at the Bournville site in Birmingham. There is however the possibility for individual roles to be based in Bournville project dependant.

What you'll gain:

• Real-World Experience: Dive headfirst into the world of food science with hands-on experience at the very front end of Food research for a leading global snacking company.

• Skill Development: Hone your technical skills in food formulation, processing and analysis. Develop your problem-solving, and communication skills, setting you up for a successful career.

• Networking Opportunities: Connect with leading scientists and industry professionals, building a valuable network for your future. Be exposed to how large businesses interact across global sites and product formats.

• Impactful Contribution: Be part of a team that's shaping the future of food and making a difference in people's lives.

Starting salary: £23,793

This position does not meet the minimum salary requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Therefore, we are unable to consider applicants who require sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

Closing date for applications is midday Monday 12 October 2026.

We will be holding our final stage assessment center for this role in-person at our Bournville offices on Monday the 23th & Tuesday the 24th of November 2026. Reasonable travel expenses will be covered.

The experience of one of our previous interns:

"As a global research intern, I was treated as full member of the team from day one, given full autonomy to deliver a project over the 12-month internship. I supported the day-to-day running of Research’s innovation space with its analytical and food processing equipment."

I was provided with coaching and mentoring from experienced team members as I scoped, planned, and delivered projects looking at developing the fundamental knowledge that informs current and future products across multiple categories.

Being in global research I was exposed to all Mondelez’s categories beyond chocolate, working on biscuit & baked snacks, or supporting other department members investigating gum and candy. This gave me a broad understanding of what goes into keeping a big company competitive in the food industry.

I was given the opportunity to present my project to and engage with senior stakeholders, sharing data and modelling systems that I had developed for my intern project, skills which were not know to me when I joined the intern program.

It’s been an amazing year, which has shown me what research is like in large businesses. Through networking, I’ve learned how broad Research and Development is, and the opportunities it can provide. I’d definitely recommend an internship with Global Research and Mondelez"

We celebrate diversity, so if you require any adjustment to take part in our hiring process, let us know and we’ll work with you to help remove barriers and make the process accessible. You never have to disclose more than you're comfortable with - just tell us what you need. Please see the details on our dedicated D&I careers page.

Our candidate requirements are based on criteria to enable you to succeed in the role. If you have narrowly missed the above requirements and there are extenuating circumstances that you would like us to consider, you can let us know by contacting [e-mail] stating “UK&I Early Careers” as the subject and attaching a letter from your school/university to confirm your extenuating circumstances.

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type

• Intern (Fixed Term)
• Interns
• Early Careers