R&D Internship at Elanco, USA | Life Sciences Candidates, Apply Online and Earn Upto $40 /hr
An Elanco R&D Internship opportunity awaits aspiring scientists at Elanco, a global leader in animal health. The organization seeks an R&D Laboratory Intern for its Indianapolis headquarters, offering hands-on experience in research and development. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly.
- Position: R&D Laboratory Intern – RBI & Technical Development
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Job Requisition ID: R0027290
About The Company
Elanco is a global leader in animal health, dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat diseases in farm animals and pets. The organization is driven by its vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life, aiming to go beyond for animals, customers, society, and its people. Elanco prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, believing that diversity is the driving force behind innovation and overall business success.
Elanco R&D Internship: Job Description
As an R&D Laboratory Intern at Elanco’s global headquarters in Indianapolis, the selected candidate will contribute directly to the Research and Breakthrough Innovation and Technical Development organizations. This Elanco R&D Internship involves performing hands-on laboratory work in support of new and existing animal health products, owning the progress of an innovative project while collaborating with scientists and engineers to design and execute experiments, generate and interpret data, and contribute to robust processes and products for companion and/or farm animals.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and execute hands-on experiments in an R&D laboratory (e.g., synthetic chemistry, formulation development, analytical development, upstream/downstream bioprocess development, cell culture, immunoassays, molecular biology, or protein sciences), following established safety protocols and guidelines.
- Prepare solutions, reagents, media, and test articles. Operate relevant instrumentation. Analyze and interpret experimental data, summarize findings, and propose next steps in collaboration with the supervisor and project team.
- Perform independent laboratory work under appropriate supervision, including troubleshooting and optimizing experimental procedures.
- Provide recommendations on experimental design, instrumentation, or process improvements that may enhance robustness, efficiency, or scalability.
- Participate in regular check-ins, presenting progress and results to the supervisor and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Rigorously document experimental plans, procedures, and results in laboratory notebooks, maintaining high standards and data integrity.
- Present final project results in an oral presentation summarizing project objectives, methods, results, and key learnings to R&D colleagues and the intern community.
Eligibility Criteria
Education: Currently enrolled in a STEM field such as biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, or other related fields.
- Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD.
- Academic Progress: Students must return to a degree-seeking program for the fall semester following the completion of the internship.
- Technical Skills and Core Competencies:
- Experience with hands-on laboratory work gained through independent research, teaching labs, or prior internship experience.
- Comfort working at the bench (e.g., pipetting, solution preparation, aseptic technique, basic instrumentation) and following written protocols.
- Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for data organization, analysis, and presentation.
- Scientific curiosity and a desire to innovate. Strong learning agility and willingness to acquire new techniques and concepts quickly.
- Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in team environments and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical colleagues.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Academic Progress: Expected graduation date between December 2027 and August 2028 with intention of entering industry following degree completion.
- Research Experience: Sustained performance (>1 semester) in an undergraduate or graduate STEM research laboratory (academic, industry, or prior internship/co-op) with demonstrated technical growth.
- Area-Specific Experience (depending on interest and placement):
- Synthetic/Analytical Development: Organic synthesis, route scouting, analytical method development, chromatography, spectroscopy, physicochemical characterization, or solid form characterization.
- Formulation Development: Experience preparing dosage forms (e.g., solutions, suspensions, tablets, injectables), working with excipients, or conducting stability and compatibility studies. Experience with synthetic molecules, peptides, or biologics.
- Bioprocess/Upstream Development: Mammalian or microbial cell culture, aseptic technique, bioreactor operation, media/feed preparation, process optimization, or scale-up studies.
- Antibody/Biologics: Immunoassays (e.g., ELISA), protein expression and purification, molecular cloning, flow cytometry, or related techniques.
- Familiarity with statistical or data analysis tools (e.g., R, JMP, Python, Minitab, or similar) and/or data management systems.
- Ability to work exceptionally well both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with appropriate levels of supervision.
- Demonstrated interest in animal health, sustainability, veterinary medicine, or data-driven approaches to R&D.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly present scientific results.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced research environment.
- Participation in an R&D Internship that highlights technical growth and innovation.
Elanco’s Internship Program: The internship program is designed to give students meaningful, hands-on experience as they kickstart their careers. Internships are project-based and focused on business-critical needs, offering every intern the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Elanco’s success over the summer. At the heart of the experience is the belief that making life better for animals makes life better.
- Internship Dates: May 17th – August 6th, 2027
- Competitive Salary: $20-$40/hour (dependent upon major and year in school)
- Professional Development: Networking events, assigned mentors, and learning resources are provided.
- Housing: Financial support and help securing housing is available.
- Future opportunities: High-performing interns may be considered for full-time roles or additional internships, based on business needs.
The Elanco R&D Internship is a compelling opportunity for aspiring scientists to gain invaluable experience in the field of animal health. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply before the deadline to secure their chance to contribute to meaningful projects that enhance the lives of animals.
