R&D Science and Modelling Intern

Jacobs Douwe Egberts UK; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 5,600 - 6,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly internship allowance €525

Travel compensation

Paid holidays

Learning from Food Research experts

Job summary

JDE Peet's in Utrecht invites applications for a full-time R&D Science and Modelling Intern starting March 2027. The role focuses on adapting models from literature to understand coffee brewing processes, with hands-on data analysis and modelling in a food engineering context.

You will work on mathematical modelling of brewing kinetics, simulate extraction, fit parameters to data, and share insights with internal teams.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a BSc or MSc program for the internship duration.
• Strong programming, modelling and data-analysis skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Mathematical modelling of brewing kinetics and related processes.
• Simulate extraction of solids and component distributions.
• Fit model parameters to experimental data.
• Data analysis and visualization to validate models and extract insights.
• Present findings to internal teams and support cross-functional learning.
• Assist with small-scale experiments to generate or validate data.

Skills

Python

Mathematical modelling

Data analysis

English fluency

Education

BSc or MSc in Chemical Engineering / Food Technology / Physics / Applied Mathematics

Tools

CFD tools

Job description

Join us as R&D Science and Modelling Intern at our international headquarters in Utrecht, starting in March 2027. This is a full-time internship.

In this internship, you will support the Science & Modelling team by adapting and implementing models from scientific literature to deepen our understanding of coffee brewing processes. This a great opportunity to gain hands‑on experience with advance modelling techniques and data analysis in the context of food engineering, while contributing to real‑world innovation in the coffee and tea business.

Your key activities will be:

Mathematical modelling of brewing kinetics, including:

1. Adapting and implementing models from scientific literature to describe dispersive flow and mass transfer in porous media (e.g., packed beds), tailored to JDE brewing systems.
2. Simulating extraction of dissolved solids and individual components.
3. Fitting model parameters to experimental data.

• Data analysis and visualization to validate models and extract meaningful insights.
• Knowledge sharing: Presenting findings to internal teams to support knowledge capture and cross‑functional learning.
• Experimental support: Assisting with small‑scale experiments when needed, to generate or validate data for modelling purposes.

What's in it for you?

• A monthly internship allowance of €525 (full-time)
• Travel compensation if you don't have a free public transport card
• Paid holidays for each internship term
• The chance to learn from the best Food Research professionals out there!

Qualifications

Are you bursting with fresh ideas and a hunger for learning? We want you!

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Academic Program: You are enrolled in a BSc or MSc program for the entirety of the internship, preferably in Chemical Engineering, Food Technology, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• Skillset: You possess solid programming skills in Python and a strong foundation in mathematical modelling and data analysis. You’re fluent in both spoken and written English – Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools or hands‑on work in food process modelling is a plus, but not a must.
• Personal traits: You have a structured approach, a driven and energetic personality, excellent communication and people skills, and the ability to work both in a team and independently.
• Commitment: You are ready to dedicate at least 5 months to this internship, preferably from March 2027 to August 2027.
• Availability: You can join the internship for 5 days per week, including four days in‑office and one day remotely, ensuring an ideal balance between collaboration and independence.

As we hope to have piqued your interest, please ensure you also meet the eligibility criteria and academic requirements:

• Your internship should be included in your study curriculum and directly contribute to your academic results.
• Your educational institution is willing to sign a collaboration agreement with JDE Peet's and when joining our Research departments, also sign an NDA agreement for internships.
• You are either an EU(EEA) student residing in the Netherlands during the internship or a Non‑EU(EEA) student enrolled and living in the Netherlands during the internship.

Company Description

What’s it like to work at JDE Peet’s?

We believe amazing things happen over a cup of coffee. Together, we create those moments every day, turning ideas into impact and possibilities into reality. At JDE Peet’s, we work as one team guided by our values: we Dare to Amaze, Own It, Make It Simple, and Win Together. Here, you’ll find the freedom to innovate, the courage to take bold steps, and the support to grow your career in a global environment.