R&D Bioprocess & Startup ops intern

About the role Cosaic is setting new rules for food ingredients. Our flagships, Cosaic Neo & Cosaic M, are natural multifunctional emulsions derived from yeast fermentation. They resolve formulation trade-offs the industry has long treated as unavoidable: clean label, sensory, performance, cost, and animal-free, all at once, with a single ingredient. This internship sits at the core of how we move Cosaic ingredients from the bioreactor to our customers.

You will own real parts of our extraction and analysis work, contribute directly to scale-up, and see your results feed into products and pilot-scale technology. This is a hands‑on role for someone who wants genuine responsibility early and wants to watch science turn into a commercial product.

Your Role & Responsibilities

• Develop new methods to improve the yield, quality, control of the extraction process
• Work on the extraction of our novel ingredient, from the bioreactors to the final product and develop new versions of the ingredient for our clients
• Participate in the development of our patented deodorization technology to reach pilot
• Support startup operations around 20-30% of the time (the share can vary)

Who You Are

• You have completed, or are close to completing, an MSc in Process Engineering, Food Science, or Bioprocessing
• You have run data analysis or used AI tools in a research or lab project, or you are keen to build that skill
• You have spent time at a lab bench, whether in a thesis, internship, or coursework, or you are eager to get hands‑on
• You care about improving how food is made
• You have picked up new tools or methods quickly when a project demanded it
• You use AI naturally in your work, for research, analysis, or getting things done faster

Nice to have

• You have run or assisted with a downstream process step, such as centrifugation, filtration, UHT treatment, or bioreactor operation
• You have worked on or studied fermentation or bioprocess scale‑up
• You have used an analytical method such as particle sizing, rheology, pH measurement, or microscopy
• You have written code for data analysis, in Python, R, or another language
• You have designed or helped design an experiment (DoE) to get more out of limited time or resources
• You have worked on food formulation or taken part in sensory evaluation

You will only recognize themselves in parts of these list, and that is fine. Tell us about the parts that do apply to you, and why you want to work on the future of food.

What you will gain

• Ownership of projects that reach real products, not side tasks
• Work across the full pipeline, from bioreactor to final ingredient
• Direct mentorship from experienced R&D team members
• A view into how an early‑stage company turns science into commercial value, including the operational side
• The chance to shape a new category of food ingredient at the point where it scales

• High‑impact role in a cutting‑edge scale‑up food tech company.
• Beautiful Zürich lake office location with a collaborative, science‑driven team.
• Fast‑track growth and learning in a dynamic startup.

This internship is paid with a gross salary of 3000 CHF for 100% during the 9 months of internship