About the role#
As an R&D Laboratory Intern in the Vaccines Technical Development organization, you will contribute directly to the development of new and existing animal health products. Based at our site in Fort Dodge, Iowa, you will own an innovative project within the Analytical Development Team. You will collaborate with scientists to design and execute experiments, generate and interpret data, and contribute to in vitro assay development for companion and farm animals.
What you'll do#
- Design and execute hands-on experiments following established safety protocols.
- Prepare solutions, reagents, media, and test articles.
- Operate laboratory instrumentation.
- Analyze and interpret experimental data, summarize findings, and propose next steps with your project team.
- Perform independent laboratory work, including troubleshooting and optimizing procedures.
- Provide recommendations on experimental design or process improvements to enhance efficiency and scalability.
- Document experimental plans, procedures, and results in laboratory notebooks.
- Participate in regular check-ins to present progress to supervisors and stakeholders.
- Deliver an oral presentation summarizing your project objectives, methods, results, and key learnings.
What you'll need#
- Currently enrolled in a STEM field such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical science, molecular biology, microbiology, or biomedical engineering.
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree.
- Must return to a degree-seeking program for the fall semester following the internship.
- Experience with hands-on laboratory work from independent research, teaching labs, or prior internships.
- Comfort working at the bench, including pipetting, solution preparation, aseptic technique, and following written protocols.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
- Scientific curiosity and the ability to acquire new techniques quickly.
- Strong critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
- Ability to work effectively in team environments and communicate with technical and non-technical colleagues.
- Preferred: Expected graduation between December 2027 and August 2028.
- Preferred: Sustained performance in a research laboratory and experience with analytical development, biologics, mammalian cell culture, or molecular biology techniques.
- Preferred: Familiarity with statistical or data analysis tools like R, JMP, Python, or Minitab.
Location & details#
- Location: Fort Dodge, IA (100% On-site)
- Term: Summer 2027
- Employment Type: Full-time
- This is a paid internship.
About Elanco
Elanco is a public company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm operates within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. It focuses on animal health, food production, and food safety. The organization employs 9,361 people.
How to get in at Elanco
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