R&D Lab Intern - Food Science in Abingdon

We are looking for a highly motivated undergraduate student to join our R&D team as a Lab Intern. In this role, you will support our scientific team in developing and testing new plant-based ingredients and gain hands-on experience in ingredient functional characterisation and purification, processing in lab and pilot scale, and ingredient performance in real food applications. If you are interested in food systems and it feels like the lab is your natural habitat, come join us!

The Role

We are looking for a proactive Lab Intern to support our work in ingredient development, functionality testing, and purification processes. This is a hands-on role where you will work closely with our R&D team to leverage new raw materials, assess ingredient performance, and help scale ideas from concept to prototype. The internship is flexible in length and can be extended up to 12 months for candidates looking for an industrial placement year as part of their degree.

About Us

AmaranthLabs is a UK-based foodtech startup on a bold mission: to build the world’s first end-to-end platform to fully valorise amaranth – a climate-resilient, nutrient-dense ancient grain with a complete functional protein and smallest starch granule among all known starches.

What you’ll do

• Execute ingredient functionality and purification trials following previously established protocols. This includes assessing ingredient solubility, stability, viscosity, gelation and emulsification capacity and applying purification methods such as filtration, pH shifting and fractionation.
• Operate laboratory instruments (e.g., pH meters, automatic pipettes, spectrophotometers, centrifuges) under supervision.
• Assist with maintaining a clean, safe, and organised laboratory environment (e.g., cleaning and storing glassware, stocking lab supplies, and following SOPs and COSHH forms).
• Gain hands-on experience in lab and pilot scale ingredient development, functional characterisation and purification.
• Generate and communicate technical datasets that support ingredient specifications, product positioning, and commercial adoption.
• Maintain rigorous documentation of experiments to ensure reproducibility, knowledge sharing, and intellectual property protection.

What we’re looking for

• Currently studying or recently graduated in a BSc in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline: available for summer internship or industrial placement year.
• Strong interest in food systems and ingredient development, functionality characterisation and purification.
• Willingness to learn in a fast-paced, experimental environment.
• Basic understanding of protein and starch functionality and ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Good laboratory skills and keen interest in Research & Development.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time.

Desirable (but not required) skills

• Experience with analytical techniques and familiarity with lab equipment such as centrifuges, pH meters, or spectrophotometers.
• Interest in alternative proteins, plant-based systems, or sustainable ingredients.
• Ability to interpret experimental data and suggest improvements.

Perks & benefits

• Opportunity to gain significant R&D experience with real responsibility from day one.
• Direct involvement in ingredient innovation.
• Close mentorship from founders and technical leads.
• Potential for future full-time role as we grow.