Pharmaceutical Lab Internship; Crystallization Summer

Position: Pharmaceutical Lab Internship (Crystallization) Summer 2026
About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from Space

X, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

Summer internships will range between the months of May and August. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA.

At Varda, interns are trusted contributors in mission-critical work. As apart of the pharma team, you will work hands-on with our team to support the experimental screening and analysis of small molecule or biologic crystallization. You will gain meaningful experience working at the intersection of pharmaceutical chemistry, materials science, and experimental process design.

This internship is best suited for highly motivated students with prior research or lab experience in crystallization. You'll be part of a fast-paced, rigorous environment that values precision, scientific curiosity, and teamwork.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company's success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We're dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda's success.

Responsibilities

* Conduct crystallization screening of small molecules or biologics

* Set up reactors, beakers, or vessels with test materials

* Perform experimental measurements and analyze results

* Report findings clearly to the broader R&D team

* Help optimize crystallization conditions through iterative testing

Basic Qualifications

* Pursuing PhD from an accredited college or university in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Biology, or Biomedical Engineering, or similar physical and life sciences or engineering degrees.

* At least 3 months of basic laboratory experience outside of a classroom including safe handling of chemicals, proper use of personal protective equipment, and maintaining a laboratory notebook. Demonstrated ability to execute experiments with practical hands-on skills in a lab (e.g. conducting chemical synthesis, clean room nanofabrication, crystallization, or analytical characterization in a research lab, previous internships, Research Experiences for Undergrads (REUs) or co-op experiences).

* Desire to make your mark in a technically complex and fast-moving environment, with a passion for expanding what we can do in space!

Preferred Skills and Experience

* Familiarity with pharmaceutical crystallization

* Coursework in:

* Math & Physics:
Multi-variable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Heat/Mass Transfer

* Chemistry:
Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Spectroscopy

* Lab Techniques:
Synthetic chemistry (IR, Mass Spec, HNMR), distillations, separations

* Exposure to programming or data analysis (Python, statistical tools)

* Preference for students attending or planning to attend R1 research universities

ITAR Requirements

* Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than "U.S. Persons" as defined in U.S. export regulations.

Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as…