R & D Intern - Computational Chemistry

Corteva Agriscience; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Corteva Agriscience in Indianapolis, IN, invites you to join our summer internship program in Research & Development. You will work with experienced scientists on the discovery and optimization of chemical leads for plant health, applying computational chemistry, modeling, docking, and data analysis in a collaborative, safety‑driven environment.

The internship runs May to August for 10 weeks, full‑time, with opportunities to present work and network across the company.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate in computational chemistry, informatics, chemistry, chemical engineering, computer science, bioinformatics, or related field.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to relocate to Indianapolis, IN for the internship duration.

Responsibilities

• Apply computational methods (docking, virtual screening, structure-based design) to identify and prioritize novel compounds.
• Work safely and uphold Corteva's safety culture.
• Demonstrate independent and creative thinking by interpreting data and drawing conclusions.
• Present project reviews and final poster at the end of the internship.

Skills

Molecular docking

Molecular dynamics

Cheminformatics

Machine learning

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Computational Chemistry or related field

Tools

Molecular modeling software

Drug design tools

Job description

Who are we, and what do we do?

Grow what's next. Grow your future. Are you excited to contribute to innovative research that advances food security and sustainability? Corteva Agriscience is seeking students for full-time internships within our Research and Development organization in Indianapolis, Indiana. Interns will work closely with experienced scientists and technical experts in an industrial R&D setting, with opportunities to build skills, contribute to meaningful projects, and network across the company.

What You'll Do

We are looking for interns who can work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing to the discovery and optimization of new chemical leads for insect, weed, and disease control. Working alongside experienced scientists, the intern will apply computational modeling, molecular design, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and data analysis techniques to support discovery projects. Responsibilities may include:

• Molecular docking, virtual screening, structure-based design, molecular dynamics simulations, molecular property prediction, cheminformatics analyses, and the application of machine learning, deep learning, and other computational methods to identify and prioritize novel compounds.
• Work in a safe manner and embody Corteva's safety culture.
• Demonstrate independent and creative thinking by making novel observations, interpreting data, and drawing sound scientific conclusions.
• Present project reviews throughout the summer and a final poster before colleagues and peers.

What Skills You Need

• Currently pursuing a Masters or Doctorate degree in computational chemistry, informatics, chemistry, chemical engineering, computer science, bioinformatics, or a related scientific discipline and possess strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skill.
• Must be able to relocate to Indianapolis, IN for the duration of the internship.
• Must be able to work full-time (40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks during the timeframe of May to August.
• Coursework or research experience in molecular modeling, cheminformatics, molecular dynamics simulations, drug design, molecular mechanics, quantum mechanics, machine learning, scientific programming, or related computational methods would be beneficial.

Are you a good match? We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.

Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.