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R&D Formulation Intern

Komon
Email

Biology / Chemistry / BioChem

Job Title: R&D Formulation & Bioactive Stability Intern

 

About Komon & Komonil

We are building the bridge between regenerative agriculture in the Toledo District of Belize and the US commercial cosmetic market. Komon operates on the ground in Central America, driving local economic development through native stingless bee apiculture. Komonil is our US-based commercial arm, formulating luxury skincare using this enzymatically active honey. As we scale our apiaries from 400 to 2,500 hives by 2029 and build a digital repository for the Q'eqchi' and Mopan Maya languages, we are recruiting an exclusive internship cohort from UT Austin, St. Edward’s, TAMU-CC, and TAMU-SA. Texas is a premier hub for international trade, and we want high-autonomy builders from its top universities to help architect our cross-border enterprise.

 

The Role

Formulate next-generation skincare utilizing one of nature’s most complex ingredients: raw stingless bee honey. We need the bench-science rigor that UT Austin and St. Edward's are known for. This is a hands-on lab role where you will solve the unique chemical challenges of working with a high-moisture, low-pH natural botanical, ensuring our formulations remain enzymatically active while passing commercial stability requirements.

 

Core Responsibilities

  • Lead bench formulation for wet masks, facial scrubs, and lipid-based creams, optimizing for sensory feel and ingredient efficacy.
  • Execute rigorous microbial challenge testing (PET) to ensure the stability of high-water-activity emulsions without neutralizing active enzymes.
  • Track the oxidative degradation of lipid bases (like cacao butter and beeswax) and active flavonoids over time.
  • Document comprehensive formulation procedures and exact ingredient percentages for commercial manufacturing hand-offs.

 

The Ideal Candidate

  • Pursuing a degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Biology with heavy wet-lab experience.
  • A strong foundational understanding of organic chemistry, microbiology, and cellular-level botanical interactions.
  • Obsessive attention to detail and rigorous scientific documentation skills.

 

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief proposition (under 250 words) on how you would approach the preservative challenge testing for a high-moisture, honey-based emulsion.