Formulation Science Internship - Summer 2027

Varda; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Commuter benefit

Hourly rate $33

Job summary

Varda invites biochemically inclined students to join our Summer 2027 Formulation Science Internship in El Segundo, CA. You will perform biophysical characterization and formulation work, collaborating with senior scientists on next‑generation biologics for space manufacturing.

This full‑time, on‑site internship runs May–August and requires active enrollment in an accredited degree program. You will apply orthogonal analytical techniques, gain hands‑on lab experience, and contribute to data

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited bachelor’s or graduate degree program in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• Prior hands-on laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting is required.
• Knowledge of basic analytical techniques for protein characterization.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow experimental protocols precisely.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform biophysical characterization of protein candidates using orthogonal analytical techniques to assess structure, stability, and interaction behavior.
• Design and execute binding and selection studies between disordered protein stabilizers and microcrystalline pharmaceutical substrates.
• Evaluate stabilizer performance through lyophilization and reconstitution cycles, assessing protein integrity before and after freeze‑drying stress.
• Conduct purity and charge variant analysis via SDS‑PAGE and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF).
• Prepare reagents, buffers, and sample sets in advance to ensure experiments run on schedule.
• Maintain accurate, well‑documented records in laboratory notebooks and electronic systems.
• Collaborate with formulation scientists to anticipate laboratory needs and contribute to team meetings and progress updates.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Attention to detail

Scientific communication

Project multitasking

Education

Bachelor's or graduate degree in Biochemistry/Biophysics/Pharma Sci/Molecular Biology/Chemical Engineering

Tools

SDS-PAGE

cIEF

SEC

DLS

Lyophilization

Job description

Formulation Science Internship - Summer 2027

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

Summer internships will range between the months of May and August. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full‑time and on‑site in El Segundo, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program.

TheBiologics Formulation Research Internshipfocuses on the analytical characterization and formulation of biologic drug candidates to support the development of stable pharmaceutical products for manufacturing in microgravity. Interns will apply a variety of biophysical and analytical techniques to evaluate protein structure, stability, binding interactions, and performance through formulation and freeze‑drying processes. The role combines hands‑on laboratory experimentation, scientific data analysis, and close collaboration with formulation scientists to advance next‑generation biologic therapeutics.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company's success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of the most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We're dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda's success.

Responsibilities

Perform biophysical characterization of protein candidates using orthogonal analytical techniques to assess structure, stability, and interaction behavior

• Design and execute binding and selection studies between disordered protein stabilizers and microcrystalline pharmaceutical substrates


• Evaluate stabilizer performance through lyophilization and reconstitution cycles, assessing protein integrity before and after freeze‑drying stress


• Conduct purity and charge variant analysis via SDS‑PAGE and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF)


• Prepare reagents, buffers, and sample sets in advance to ensure experiments run on schedule


• Maintain accurate, well‑documented records in laboratory notebooks and electronic systems


• Collaborate with formulation scientists to anticipate laboratory needs and contribute to team meetings and progress updates

Interns will gain hands‑on experience with industry‑standard biophysical and analytical tools, including:

• Analytical size exclusion chromatography (SEC)


• Dynamic light scattering (DLS)


• Fluorescence spectroscopy


• SDS‑PAGE and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF)


• Selection and binding studies


• General familiarity with lyophilization and tangential flow filtration (TFF) as they relate to sample preparation and handling

What You'll Learn

• How to characterize protein and peptide structure, stability, and molecular interactions using multiple orthogonal biophysical techniques


• How to design and interpret binding and interaction studies between disordered proteins/peptides and crystalline substrates


• How biophysical characterization connects to formulation strategy and long‑term storage stability for biologic drugs


• Best practices in analytical method execution, data interpretation, and scientific documentation in a biotech R&D environment

Basic Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited bachelor's or graduate degree program in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field


• Prior hands‑on laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting is required


• Knowledge of basic analytical techniques for protein characterization


• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow experimental protocols precisely


• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities


• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Junior, Senior, or Graduate academic standing


• Familiarity with one or more of the listed biophysical characterization techniques (DLS, nanoDSF, SEC, CD, or capillary electrophoresis)


• Familiarity with lyophilization, freeze‑drying, or related solid‑state processing methods


• Experience with data analysis tools such as GraphPad Prism, Python, MATLAB, or similar


• Previous experience in a GLP‑compliant or structured R&D laboratory environment


• Interest in space medicine, in‑orbit manufacturing, or the emerging orbital economy

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00


• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area


• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well‑being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full‑time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions:

• Flexible PTO policy +12 paid holidays


• 100% company‑paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer‑matched HSA options


• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance


• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses


• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CAmothers)


• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents


• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start‑up


• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)


• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement


• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly


• Company and team‑bonding events, happyhours and mission‑success celebrations


• Complimentary EV charging

Intern Positions:

• 100% company‑paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer‑matched HSA options


• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses


• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents


• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement


• Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible


• Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly


• Company and team‑bonding events, happyhours and mission‑success celebrations


• Complimentary EV charging

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export‑controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license. “US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E‑Verify program. The E‑Verify program is an Internet‑based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E‑Verify program.

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

Voluntary Self‑Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Varda Space Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A \"disabled veteran\" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A \"recently separated veteran\" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An \"active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran\" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An \"Armed forces service medal veteran\" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.