Intern - Frozen and Dairy

Danisco USA Inc.; Kansas; On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Competitive pay

Job summary

IFF, a global leader in flavors, fragrances, and food ingredients, is seeking a Dairy/Frozen Dessert Applications Intern based onsite in New Century, KS. You will work with dairy scientists on formulation, processing, stability, and sensory evaluation through pilot‑scale production and testing.

You will learn how ingredients influence dairy systems while supporting cross‑functional teams in product development, with hands‑on lab experience and professional growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition or related field.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Interest in dairy and frozen dessert formulation or product development.

Responsibilities

• Assist Dairy Applications scientists with a technical project from design through completion.
• Support evaluation of IFF dairy ingredients in dairy systems.
• Prepare formulations and ingredients for lab and pilot plant trials.
• Operate lab and pilot plant equipment to produce prototypes and samples.
• Collect and analyze experimental data and summarize results.
• Participate in sensory and physical evaluation of prototypes.
• Collaborate with Dairy Applications scientists and other technical functions.
• Maintain accurate records and safe lab conditions.
• Present final internship project and recommendations to the Dairy Applications team.

Skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Written and verbal communication

Teamwork

Independent work

MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint

Hands-on lab experience

Lift up to 50 lbs

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Food Science or related

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Summary

Are you ready to take your skills to the next level and make a real impact? IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products. Food Ingredients: Innovating improved nutritional profiles, better taste and texture, and greater cost efficiency to meet the needs of global food and beverage manufacturers. The role is based in New Century, KS (onsite). Be part of a dynamic, diverse and passionate team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

As a Dairy/Frozen Dessert Applications Intern, you’ll gain hands‑on experience supporting dairy innovation and product development in a laboratory and pilot plant environment. You’ll learn how ingredients influence dairy formulation, processing, stability, texture, nutrition, and sensory characteristics while contributing to real technical projects. You’ll work alongside dairy application scientists and gain exposure to the product development process from initial formulation and benchtop testing through pilot‑scale processing, analytical evaluation, and technical reporting. The New Century internship also provides an opportunity to learn how other technical groups contribute to successful product development, including Food Engineering, Analytical, and Product Development, giving you a broader understanding of how cross‑functional technical teams work together to solve challenges and bring innovative solutions to life.

Your responsibilities

• Assist Dairy Applications scientists with a selected technical project from experimental design through completion, including formulation, sample preparation, processing, testing, data collection, and evaluation.
• Support the application and evaluation of various IFF food and dairy ingredients in dairy systems.
• Prepare formulations and ingredients for laboratory and pilot plant trials.
• Operate small‑scale laboratory and pilot plant equipment, with appropriate training, to produce dairy and frozen dessert prototypes and trial samples.
• Use laboratory equipment and analytical methods to evaluate dairy samples and collect relevant technical data.
• Organize, analyze, and summarize experimental data, observations, and trial results.
• Participate in sensory and physical evaluation of dairy and frozen prototypes as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Dairy Applications scientists and gain exposure to other technical functions, including Food Engineering, Analytical, and Product Development.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and help maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory and pilot plant work environment.
• Present the final internship project, findings, and recommendations to the Dairy Applications team.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree program in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, or a related scientific or technical field.
• Interest in dairy and frozen dessert formulation, food ingredients, product development, or food processing.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Comfortable working in a hands‑on laboratory and pilot plant environment.
• Ability to follow safety procedures, experimental protocols, and instructions.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

How Would You Stand Out?

• 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Coursework or previous experience in food science, dairy science, food chemistry, food engineering, product development, or related disciplines.
• Previous laboratory, pilot plant, research, or product development experience.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Curiosity about how food ingredients influence product performance, including taste, texture, stability, nutrition, and processing.
• Strong work ethic and the ability to collaborate across technical disciplines to deliver project objectives.
• An interest in learning beyond your primary project and understanding how different technical functions contribute to product innovation.

Why Choose Us?

• Gain hands‑on experience in dairy and frozen dessert formulation, ingredient functionality, processing, and product development while contributing to real‑world dairy innovation.
• Work alongside experienced scientists and technical professionals in a collaborative laboratory and pilot plant environment.
• Gain exposure to multiple technical disciplines, including Dairy Applications, Food Engineering, Analytical, and Product Development, providing a broader view of careers within the food and beverage industry.
• Build experience planning experiments, producing prototypes, analyzing results, troubleshooting formulations, and communicating technical findings.
• Develop a final technical project and present your work to the Dairy Applications team.
• Competitive pay.
• Flexible schedule.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability. Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more At IFF, we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health and biosciences, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products – advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. We value an inclusive, creative workplace where all individuals can thrive and do their best work. We consider all qualified candidates equally and based on merit, without regard to religion, ethnicity, national origin, race, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability.