Job Description

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Work model: On site
Contract type / duration: Internship – 6 months

Start date: As soon as possible
Deadline for application: 5th June 2026

Be a force for good and transform your potential into something extraordinary.

As a Microbiology Intern in Anaerobic Digestion Processes at Nestlé Research, your mission is to help advance sustainable organic-waste solutions by exploring anaerobic digestion that turns biodegradable waste into methane for renewable energy and lower greenhouse-gas emissions. You will collaborate closely with environmental microbiologists, analytical experts, and internal R&D stakeholders to translate scientific insights into practical concepts for improved waste management. This is your opportunity to make an impact while gaining hands on experience and mentorship to kick-start your career.

How you’ll make an impact as a Microbiology Intern in Anaerobic Digestion Processes

• Planning and running hands-on experiments in a state-of-the-art environmental microbiology lab to generate reliable evidence for anaerobic digestion performance.
• Analyzing the core microbiome of digestion systems to pinpoint community shifts and key drivers that boost methanisation outcomes.
• Identifying biodegradable biopolymers compatible with anaerobic digestion and testing synergistic effects with microbial consortia to increase biogas yield.
• Developing a precision methanisation approach by using analytics, database searches, and AI-enabled methods to propose optimized substrates and microbial consortia.
• Stabilizing the final digestate and sharing clear insights with stakeholders to reduce emissions and support its safe use as agricultural fertilizer.
  
  

What will make you successful

• Current Bachelor/Master student or fresh graduate in microbiology, chemistry, environmental sciences, material science, with first exposure on fermentation, and anaerobic biotransformation.
• Being proactive and self-driven in designing experimental set-ups that simulate biogas plants and in working safely in a laboratory environment.
• Being skilled in data collection and documentation would be a plus (R, Python, MS Office)
• Communicating fluently in English; having working knowledge of French is a plus.
• Demonstrating courage, collaboration, speed and continuous learning.
  
  

At Nestlé, we place people at the heart of everything we do.

Our benefits are designed to support your growth and wellbeing, so you can thrive at work and in life:

• Learning and development opportunities to grow your career
• Healthcare contribution and access to the Employee Assistance Program
• Attractive employee discounts across various products and services
  
  

What to expect from our hiring process

We are committed to an inclusive and respectful hiring experience and are happy to provide reasonable accommodations if needed. Our workplaces are fully accessible and supported by a strong safety culture, with modern installations and procedures to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

The hiring process typically includes a video interview with Talent Acquisition, an interview with the hiring team, and a final discussion and offer. We review applications as they are received and close the role once a strong list of relevant candidates is identified, so we encourage you to apply early. All information is treated confidentially.

Ready to start your career journey with us?

Apply now and transform your potential into something extraordinary.