Research, Development & Application Internship
Start Date May/ August 2026 - 9 months minimum
Available Locations Portbury; Coleraine
Discover Your Future with Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier, and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
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Description and Responsibilities
Depending on the team you join, your responsibilities may vary—but all roles include practical, hands-on experience within our R&D laboratories.
You'll support the department across a range of innovation and application projects, contributing to Kerry’s mission of delivering sustainable nutrition. You’ll be involved in
Supporting the development of new products and the improvement of existing ones through bench-scale and pilot-scale trials.
Applying scientific principles to enhance product taste, nutrition, and functionality.
Documenting experimental outcomes to support scale-up and product transfer to manufacturing.
Assisting with ingredient and formulation tracking to ensure consistency and readiness for trials.
Maintaining retained samples and ensuring raw materials are within shelf-life.
Keeping the R&D lab and equipment organized and operational.
Recording work and time activity using tools like Salesforce RD&A Tracker.
Attending team meetings and contributing to project goals and timelines.
Engaging in training and development activities and building technical expertise across the centre.
Following Health & Safety protocols in labs, pilot plants, and operational areas.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience, contribute to impactful projects, and build a strong foundation in food science and technology.
Kerry Internship Programme
As a Kerry intern you will benefit from
Meaningful work experience
Network with other interns through events
Opportunities to demonstrate to our leaders how you have contributed to Kerry during your internship.
Learning about our wider business
Opportunities to connect with other interns
We are committed to the development of our Interns as we aim to convert as many Interns as possible to Graduates. High performing interns will be given the opportunity to be considered for our Graduate Program before they complete their placement.
What we are Looking for
Studying Food Science, Food Technology, or related scientific degrees and on track for a 21 degree classification
Results Oriented
Motivated self-starter with the determination and drive to succeed.
Exceptional communication skills
Strong ability to work well in a team and on your own.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft office – Word, PowerPoint, Excel
Good organisational and time management skills
Every day, millions of people throughout the world consume foods and beverages containing Kerry’s taste and nutrition solutions. We are committed to making the world of food and beverage better for everyone, and dedicated to our Purpose, Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life.
At Kerry, we are proud to provide our customers – some of the world’s best-known food, beverage and pharma brands – with the expertise, insights and know-how they need to deliver products that people enjoy and feel better about consuming.
Kerry is a company rich in heritage and resources. Over the past five decades, our focus on changing lifestyles, the globalisation of food tastes and ever-evolving consumer needs has brought us to a market-leading global position.
Today, we are firmly established as a world leader in the food, beverage and pharma industries, with 22,000+ staff and 150+ innovation and manufacturing centres across 30+ countries.
Learn more about Kerry: www.kerry.com
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