Research and Development Internship 26' - Product Processing (Hive)

Research and Development Internship 26' - Product Processing (Hive)

HIVE is Unilever’s Foods Innovation Centre and home to product innovations for food brands like Knorr and Hellmann's.

This internship offers the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute within the Research and Development Department in the Hive. You will develop a better understanding of manufacturing processes and their scaling rules through lab and pilot plant experimentation. You will also train and validate an AI model to segment microscopy images of food products, extracting quantitative data to link product microstructure, formulation, and processing.

What makes this internship exciting?

• Your ideas will drive impact, and your creativity will take center stage.
• You will gain hands-on experience with manufacturing processes and scaling rules.
• You will work on AI-based image segmentation for microscopy images of food products.
• You will contribute to improving product texture and processability.

Here’s what your journey will look like:

• Develop product specifications to ensure quality for consumers, using available equipment or creating new designs.
• Support factories to improve efficiency and sustainability.
• Conduct pilot plant and factory trials, including developing tools for flow characteristics comparison of dry powder products, and predicting pasty cube processability by correlating lab scale deformation data with paste extrusion.
• Investigate manufacturing processes and their scaling rules through lab and pilot plant experimentation.
• Train and validate an AI model to segment microscopy images of food products, extracting quantitative data to link product microstructure, formulation, and processing.
• Improve product texture with minimal ingredient changes, ensuring stability over time.

You’re the perfect fit if:

• You’re available for 5 to 6 months starting August-September 2026 (minimum 32 hours/week).
• You are enrolled (3rd or 4th year) in a Bachelor or Master program in Food Science/Technology, Food Physics, Chemical Engineering or Material Science.
• You have basic experience with microscopy and an affinity for image analysis and AI.
• You possess an analytical mindset; knowledge of food microstructure is beneficial but not required.
• You are capable of practical work and basic research, including literature search, setting up work programs, collecting and analysing data, and interpreting and presenting results.
• You have an affinity for programming tools to build models for factory data.
• You are fluent in English (spoken and written).

Why you’ll love working with us

• A €625 gross/month allowance.
• Travel reimbursement if you don’t have a student travel card.
• Fun and engaging intern programs, including onboarding, events, and activities with fellow interns.
• Access to extensive training programs for personal and professional growth.
• A flexible working environment tailored to your success.
• A behind-the-scenes experience at one of the world’s largest and most innovative FMCG companies.