Pharmaceutical Lab Internship… at Varda Space… · El Segundo

Summary: Varda Space Industries is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing. The Pharmaceutical Lab Internship offers students the opportunity to support experimental screening and analysis of crystallization while gaining hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities: - Conduct crystallization screening of small molecules or biologics - Set up reactors, beakers, or vessels with test materials - Perform experimental measurements and analyze results - Report findings clearly to the broader R&D team - Help optimize crystallization conditions through iterative testing Required Qualifications: - Pursuing PhD from an accredited college or university in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Biology, or Biomedical Engineering, or similar physical and life sciences or engineering degrees - At least 3 months of basic laboratory experience outside of a classroom including safe handling of chemicals, proper use of personal protective equipment, and maintaining a laboratory notebook - Demonstrated ability to execute experiments with practical hands-on skills in a lab (e.g. conducting chemical synthesis, clean room nanofabrication, crystallization, or analytical characterization in a research lab, previous internships, Research Experiences for Undergrads (REUs) or co-op experiences) - Desire to make your mark in a technically complex and fast-moving environment, with a passion for expanding what we can do in space! Preferred Qualifications: - Familiarity with pharmaceutical crystallization - Coursework in: Math & Physics: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Heat/Mass Transfer - Coursework in: Chemistry: Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Spectroscopy - Coursework in: Lab Techniques: Synthetic chemistry (IR, Mass Spec, HNMR), distillations, separations - Exposure to programming or data analysis (Python, statistical tools) - Preference for students attending or planning to attend R1 research universities Required Skills: Crystallization, Laboratory experience Important Skills: Pharmaceutical chemistry, Materials science, Data analysis Nice-to-Have Skills: Scientific curiosity, Precision Internship Start Date: Start in 2026 Summer Benefits: Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side, Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded), 401(k) matching (interns excluded), Unlimited PTO (interns excluded), Health insurance, including Vision and Dental, Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week., Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)