Research & Development—Foodservice Intern

Grande Cheese Company; Fond du Lac (WI); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Farm to fork tours

Networking events

Group outings

Volunteer opportunities

Professional development

Job summary

Grande Cheese Company is offering an R&D Intern – Trademark Excellence Sensory Insights position in Wisconsin. You will support sensory science and product quality initiatives, gain hands-on experience, and help ensure flavors, functionality, and performance meet high standards.

Interns will lead sensory projects, assist with trial design and documentation, and analyze results using statistical methods while collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand impacts on product quality.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor's in food science or related field.
• Sophomore or higher status at an accredited college or university.
• Interest in R&D with focus on New Product Development, Sensory Science, or Microbiology.
• Must be able to taste food products, evaluate sensory attributes, and document observations using sensory evaluation tools.
• Mature, positive outlook with ability to focus on multiple duties across different areas.
• Advanced Word and Excel skills—particularly graphing, table manipulation, and some statistical application.
• Strong math skills with some exposure to statistics.
• Strong work ethic, self-starter.
• Able to maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent sensory and R&D projects focused on product quality and performance.
• Analyze trial results using appropriate statistical methods.
• Communicate research findings through reports and presentations.
• Assist with daily lab projects, surveys, and evaluations.
• Support Scientists with trial planning, testing, data collection, and documentation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand contributions to product quality.

Skills

Sensory evaluation

Statistical analysis

Laboratory skills

Data presentation

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science

Sophomore status or higher

Some college in Food Science

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Summary

As an R&D Intern – Trademark Excellence Sensory Insights, you will gain hands‑on experience supporting sensory science and product quality initiatives that help ensure products consistently meet high standards for flavor, functionality, and performance.

Interns in our department have completed projects such as operating and analyzing samples using an electronic nose, providing sensory evaluations of cheese product and their ingredients, and planning and conducting their own sensory studies using a variety of testing methods. Interns in this role will have the chance to lead independent sensory projects, assist with trial design, execution, and documentation, analyze results using appropriate statistical techniques, and effectively share their findings.

Interns in this role can expect to further their learning in food, dairy, and sensory science, and other related fields in addition to collaboration, professionalism, attention to detail, time management, and more.

What You Will Be Doing

• Project Work


• With appropriate guidance and supervision, conduct independent sensory and R&D research projects focused on product quality and its impact on performance, flavor, and functionality.


• Analyze trial results using appropriate statistical methods, with support as needed.


• Communicate research findings through both written reports and verbal presentations.


• Assist with daily projects, surveys, and evaluations conducted in the lab


• Technical Support


• Support Scientists with trial planning, testing, execution, data collection, analysis, and project documentation.


• Work closely with the Trademark Excellence Sensory Insights team to learn, understand, and provide product insights and sensory analysis.


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand how different departments contribute to product quality and performance.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a professional research environment while gaining real‑world experience in sensory science and product quality. You\'ll work closely with industry professionals, contribute to meaningful projects, and develop technical and professional skills that will help prepare you for a successful career in food science and R&D.

Unique Benefits of our Internship Program

• You will get the farm to fork experience during this program. You will experience a farm tour, facility tours, and experience the end user products.


• Networking events where you will meet executives and community leaders.


• Internship group outings and events.


• Volunteer opportunities within the community.


• Personal development events and training.

While you don\'t have to love pizza to work here…it sure does help!

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a \"bachelor\"'s degree in food science or a related scientific field.


• Student in sophomore or greater status at an accredited college or university.


• Interest in Research & Development with a focus on New Product Development, Sensory Science, and or Microbiology


• Must be willing and able to taste food products, evaluate sensory attributes, and document observations using sensory evaluation tools and charts


• Mature, positive outlook with ability to focus on multiple duties across different areas


• Advanced Word and Excel skills- particularly graphing, table manipulation, and some statistical application


• Strong math skills with some exposure to statistics


• Strong work ethic, self-starter


• Able to maintain confidentiality

Preferred Qualifications

• Involvement in campus organizations, student groups, athletics, volunteer activities, or other extracurricular leadership opportunities.

Why Grande?

With more than 80 years of crafting “The Finest Italian Cheeses That Money Can Buy”, Grande is a leader in the industry! Whether partnering with independent pizzerias from coast-to-coast to ensure they\'re delivering the very best pizza to their customers or assisting our food manufacturing partners in delivering specialty whey ingredient solutions, our commitment to quality can’t be matched. While Grande\'s reputation of excellence in the market is important, we believe our commitment to our workplace and community culture is of equal merit – our Associates come first at Grande. To complement our industry-leading benefits, Grande puts an emphasis on your career growth opportunities, while always promoting a positive work/life balance and supporting the communities in which we live and work. If you want to learn more about our company – what we do and how we go about it – or learn more about our beautiful, state-of-the-art corporate headquarters, visit www.grande.com.

High School Diploma or better in General Education Some college or better in Food Science