Data Scientist - Summer Internship - Food Science/Bakery Focus!

This role will provide a hands-on learning experience by supporting R&D, product innovation, and process improvement through data analysis, process mapping, and workflow optimization.

Interns typically assist with documenting R&D processes, assessing data sources and data hygiene practices, identifying automation opportunities, and developing practical recommendations that improve visibility, consistency, and efficiency across product development activities.

Key Areas

R&D Process Mapping:

• Assist in mapping current R&D workflows from concept through testing, approval, and commercialization, including key decision points, handoffs, data inputs, data outputs, tools used, and opportunities to reduce bottlenecks or rework.

• Catalog relevant R&D data sources such as formulas, trial records, sensory results, shelf-life observations, quality data, ingredient information, and production feedback; evaluate data consistency and recommend naming standards, data dictionaries, required fields, storage practices, and data quality checks.

• Analyze R&D and bakery-related data to identify trends, gaps, and improvement opportunities; support dashboards, scorecards, and reports that help teams track experiments, product performance, timelines, specifications, and project status.

• Identify repetitive manual tasks and recommend or prototype simple automation solutions using approved tools such as Excel, Power Query, SharePoint, Power BI, Python, or other workflow platforms to improve accuracy, traceability, and turnaround time.

• Research data management, analytics, and automation best practices relevant to food science, bakery R&D, and product development; prepare practical recommendations for data governance, process documentation, standard work, and digital workflow improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with bakery scientists, product developers, quality, operations, supply chain, and IT partners to understand requirements, validate process maps, gather feedback, and translate technical findings into clear actions for R&D stakeholders.

Working towards a degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Analytics, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related field; minimum Junior standing. Interest in food science, bakery, product development, or manufacturing processes preferred.