Food Scientist Intern

Grainwell is a privately-owned ingredient, inclusion, and finished goods manufacturer primarily supplying the cereal, granola, nutritional bar, and snack categories.  We manufacture a variety of puffed products made from single ingredients, including ancient and traditional grains.

Located in Dyersville, IA, our brand new 100,000 sq ft facility is where Grainwell manufactures a range of innovative puffed products using state-of-the-art, all-new puffing and support systems such as air compressors and steam generators. As the only facility of its kind in North America, we are poised for significant growth in the "good for you" food sector. If you're seeking a challenge and want to contribute to our expanding company, join our team to experience personal growth as we build our future together.

Job purpose:   

This internship offers an excellent opportunity for students pursuing a degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field to gain practical experience in product development, ingredient functionality, food processing, and quality evaluation within a manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate enjoys problem-solving, learning through experimentation, and working both in the office and on the production floor.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Maintain a positive attitude at all times.  
• Assist with research and development projects related to puffed grain products and ingredients. 
• Apply background knowledge of raw material harvesting and variability.
• Prepare samples for product development trials and customer evaluations. 
• Participate in plant trials, document observations, and collect production data. 
• Conduct basic product testing, including moisture, density, texture, color, and other physical characteristics. 
• Assist with ingredient evaluations and functionality testing. 
• Maintain detailed records of experiments, formulations, and trial results. 
• Support continuous improvement initiatives involving manufacturing processes and product quality. 
• Help organize and maintain the R&D laboratory and sample inventory. 
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Production, and Operations teams on cross-functional projects. 
• Follow all food safety, quality, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures. 
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in:
  • Food Science 
  • Food Science & Technology 
  • Food Engineering 
  • Agricultural Engineering 
  • or a related scientific field 
• Strong organizational and communication skills. 
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a team environment. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Teams, Excel, Word, Outlook). 
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Previous laboratory or food manufacturing experience. 
• Interest in cereal grains, ingredient functionality, or food processing. 
• Experience with data collection and analysis. 
• Knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, or food safety principles.

Working conditions:

• Shift based working hours. 
• Primarily an indoor work environment.
• Exposure to hot parts on equipment.
• May involve exposure to cleaning chemicals and allergens.
• May be exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels, such as production equipment.

Physical requirements:

• Ability to stand and walk throughout the production facility. 
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.
• Comfortable working in both office and manufacturing environments. 
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).

What you’ll learn:

During this internship, you'll gain exposure to:

• Product formulation and development 
• Food processing and puffing technologies 
• Steam systems
• Ingredient functionality 
• Manufacturing operations 
• Food quality and sensory evaluation 
• Food safety and quality systems 
• Product commercialization 
• Data collection and experimental design 
• Cross-functional collaboration within a manufacturing environment