Life Science Thesis Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OverviewSMILE AT WHAT'S NEXT

At PepsiCo, you'll find the opportunity to grow your career, make an impact, and help shape what's next. As one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, our beloved brands-including Gatorade, Lay's, and Quaker-help create smiles with every sip and bite. Behind our products is a connected system that starts with how we source and grow ingredients alongside farmers and extends to how we make, move, and deliver products while driving positive impact for our business and communities.

At the heart of PepsiCo are our people: professionals who bring curiosity, drive, and fresh thinking, working together to turn ideas into action. Across functions, teams, and markets, we collaborate to solve challenges, unlock new opportunities, and create meaningful impact for our consumers, customers, and communities.

No matter your role, you'll be part of a connected community where your contributions matter, your voice is heard, and your development is supported. With opportunities to grow, belong, and smile, PepsiCo offers more than a place to build your career-it offers the chance to help create what's next.

Responsibilities

At PepsiCo, we place R&D full-time hires primarily in the two headquarters locations: Plano, TX, and Purchase/Valhalla, NY. In some cases, Full-Time hires will be placed in satellite locations. Location preferences will be discussed in the interview process.  

As an R&D Global Capabilities and Life Sciences Specialist, you will participate in providing the framework surrounding these four pillars: Technical Insights, Digital Solutions, Compliance or Life Sciences

Within those pillars, you could work within the following teams:

 

Measurement Sciences:  You will collaborate with cross-functional partners, including product development, quality, ingredients, seasonings, and nutrition globally, and leverage analytical instruments, methodologies, and procedures to deliver solid and accurate data. Qualifications: Enrolled in BS, MS, or PhD program in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, or related chemistry field.

 

Food Safety and Quality: You will ensure food products are safe for consumption and meet the quality standards. Qualifications: Enrolled in BS Program in Food Safety, Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, Food Management, Agricultural Science, Public Health, or Chemistry program

 

Digital Solutions: Strong candidates will have a strong foundation in computer science, software engineering/application building, and data visualization and an interest in developing user-friendly, robust, and fit-for-purpose applications for R&D. The intern will explore how statistical experimentation, modeling, and artificial intelligence can be combined to accelerate product development. Qualifications: Enrolled in MS or PhD program in Statistics, Data Science, Biostatisitics, Applied Statistics, Statistical Science, or related field.

Consumer Science: The intern will lead sensory and consumer product research to enable consumer-informed product-package-process decisions for innovation projects. Qualifications: enrolled in MS or PhD program in Food Science (thesis in Sensory), Consumer Psychology, Behavioral Science, Anthropology, Cognitive Science, Neuro-Marketing, Sociology, Bio-Psychology, Sensory, Psychology, or a related field.

Regulatory Affairs: Strong candidates will have a passion for nutrition and food policy. Interest in regulations, including working with brands to create compliant packaging and product claims. Qualifications: Enrolled in a BS program in Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutrition Science, Food Science or related field.

 

Life Sciences: Apply scientific expertise across a variety of health and wellness platforms, research, and scientific substantiation to advance credible, consumer-centric product innovation across PepsiCo's portfolio.

Qualifications: Currently enrolled in a MS or PhD program in Nutrition Sciences, Public Health, Exercise or Sports Science, Physiology, Behavioral Science, Health Sciences, or a related discipline.

Qualifications

• Must graduate with bachelor's, master's, or PhD degree within one (1) year of internship completion. 

• Eligible to work in the United States without work authorization sponsorship. 

• Demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into strategic and tactical project goals and objectives. 

• Proven ability to make significant technical, and scientific advances utilizing internal and/or external resources 

• Demonstrated understanding of how to incorporate business needs into technical decisions 

• Ability and interest to work in a laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing scale environments 

• Familiarity with data science preferred 

• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments/ tasks 

• Effective communication skills (oral and written) 

• Willingness to travel 

• Actual working location will be determined at the point of offer: Plano, TX, Valhalla, NY or Chicago, IL 

Minimum Qualifications - Each candidate is expected to:  

• Bachelor's or master/PhD level degree: 

This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

Overview

Compensation: 

• The expected compensation hourly pay ranges for hires into our 2027 campus intern openings is $21.09 - $55.40 hourly.   

• Role, degree discipline, degree level, and location are part of the process when determining actual starting salary for positions. 

• Hourly pay for our campus hires is pre-determined and non-negotiable. 

• We love to convert our interns to full-time opportunities! Our full-time positions have a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility:  Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. 

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Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

Please view our Pay Transparency Statement

Employment Type: FULL_TIME