Job Description
Job Title: Diageo Liquid Development Intern – Student Placement, University of Reading (Food & Nutritional Sciences).
Dates: July/ August 2026 – July/ August 2027.
Location: Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.
Eligibility: This internship is in partnership with the University of Reading. Only candidates from the University of Reading, enrolled in Food & Nutritional Sciences or closely related programmes, and applying for Year 2 placements are eligible.
About The Role
As a Liquid Development Intern within our Global Innovation R&D team, you will work in our Bishop’s Stortford laboratory supporting the development of new products including spirits, flavoured products, and RTDs. This is a hands‑on technical role, focused on formulation, experimentation, and data‑driven decision making.
You will support global R&D Innovation projects by designing and delivering experiments, generating robust data, and contributing to the development and optimisation of drink and product performance. Working under the guidance of experienced scientists, you will gain exposure to ideation and product development, from early‑stage formulation through to scale‑up considerations.
Role Responsibilities
* Design and conduct laboratory experiments to support ideation, drink development and formulation and optimisation.
* Prepare and blend samples with precise control of ingredients, concentrations, and processing conditions.
* Apply principles of food science, chemistry and ingredient functionality to understand flavour interactions, stability, and performance.
* Generate, record, and analyse experimental data to support project decisions.
* Maintain accurate and detailed documentation in line with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).
* Interpret results and communicate findings clearly to technical and cross‑functional teams.
* Conduct stability testing and shelf‑life assessments, identifying potential risks and mitigation strategies.
* Support sensory evaluation studies, linking analytical results with sensory outcomes.
* Follow strict health, safety, and COSHH protocols, maintaining high laboratory standards.
* Work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams, while taking ownership of defined technical tasks.
* Manage multiple experiments and priorities within a fast‑paced R&D environment.
* Contribute to problem‑solving by identifying root causes and proposing evidence‑based solutions.
Experience / Skills Required
* Studying Food & Nutritional Sciences (or a closely related scientific discipline) at the University of Reading.
* Strong foundation in food science & technology, chemistry, or formulation science.
* Understanding of experimental design, data analysis, and scientific methodology.
* Curiosity about creative, liquid formulation, ingredient interactions, and product stability.
* Familiarity with laboratory techniques and equipment (desirable).
* Awareness of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and safe lab working.
* Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with high attention to detail.
* Ability to interpret data and draw evidence‑based conclusions.
* Good written and verbal communication skills, particularly in communicating technical findings.
* Proactive, organised, and able to manage workload independently.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other data‑handling tools.
Diversity Statement
Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. We accept diversity in the broadest possible sense, and we create an inclusive culture that values everyone. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.
Worker Type: Internship (Fixed Term).
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