Agriculture Internship at Driscoll in USA
Are you searching for an agriculture internship that combines plant science, genetics, and real-world research experience? The Driscoll Company is offering an exciting Internship in USA for students interested in postharvest genetics and berry research. This Student Internship provides hands-on laboratory and field research experience focused on fruit quality, ripening, and shelf-life traits. For aspiring scientists, this is an excellent internship opportunity for Life Science graduates who want to gain valuable experience in plant biology, horticulture, and agricultural biotechnology within a globally recognized berry research organization.
About the Driscoll Company
The Driscoll Company is the global leader in fresh berry production, specializing in strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage, the company collaborates with independent growers worldwide to produce premium berries. The Driscoll Company is known for developing proprietary berry varieties through natural breeding techniques without the use of GMOs. By combining agricultural science, genetics research, and innovative farming practices, the company continues to deliver high-quality berries to consumers around the world.
Internship Details
- Intern Title: Post Harvest – Genetics Intern
- Location: Watsonville, California, USA
- Company Name: Driscoll’s
- Internship Type: Full-time Internship
- Duration: 4 months (May/June – September/October)
- Experience: 0–3 Years
About the Opportunity
The Company is seeking a highly motivated intern to join the Postharvest R&D team, which studies the phenotypic, genetic, and physiological factors that impact fruit quality and shelf-life in berries. This role supports Driscoll’s core purpose of delighting consumers by advancing research that strengthens postharvest performance.
The internship will focus on deepening the understanding of flavor inconsistency, color development during ripening, and other key postharvest traits that shape overall berry quality. The intern will collaborate with cross-functional R&D teams to characterize these traits and contribute to broader research initiatives aligned with company priorities and the intern’s scientific interests.
Responsibilities
- Develop, measure, and optimize biochemical, physiological, analytical, and other relevant methods to quantify flavor inconsistency, color development during ripening, and other key postharvest traits in berries
- Perform postharvest shelf life and quality evaluations on diverse berry types
- Operate and maintain analytical laboratory equipment
- Collect, enter, curate, and analyze phenotypic postharvest data
- Maintains measurement and testing equipment in operational condition
- Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly work environment
- Collaborate and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, including postharvest, breeding, sensory, and next-gen breeding groups
- Ensures the protection of Driscoll’s confidential and proprietary information and materials
- Represents Driscoll’s in an ethical and business-like manner in all interactions with co-workers, suppliers, customers, and the business community at large
- Other duties as assigned
Who Can Apply?
- Currently enrolled as an advanced undergraduate in plant biology, horticulture, biochemistry, or an agriculture-related field
- Understand scientific methods, including setting up lab experiments and testing a hypothesis
- Ability to work in both a research lab and an outdoor field environment
- Great data collection, data analysis, and interpretation skills
- Precision in lab record/data keeping
- Experience with image processing software like ImageJ
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work with cross-functional research teams
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel/Word/PowerPoint
- Must be able to lift 25 lbs
- California driver’s license and ability to be covered under a company-sponsored vehicle insurance program
Preferred Qualifications & Leadership Competencies
- Experience with lab analytical, molecular, and biochemical laboratory methods relevant to fruit ripening or postharvest biology
- Prior experience with data analysis and data management
Leadership Competencies For Agriculture Internship
- Plans & Aligns: Establishes priorities and desired outcomes and creates plans to achieve them
- Drives Results: Pursues everything with energy, resourcefulness, and the need to achieve desired outcomes
- Collaborates: Works with a variety of colleagues, inside and/or outside of Driscoll’s, seeking win-win solutions
