Where Science Meets Opportunity: Bioscience Interns at IFF 

As part of our continual commitment to develop emerging talent  – we celebrate the leaders who join our global intern and co-op communities. Gaining practical experience, developing new relationships and learning from some of the best minds in the industry are all part of the daily life of an IFF intern. Our emerging talent programs range from marketing to manufacturing, while staying rooted in our commitment to Do More Good for people and planet.  

In the U.S. we operate a legacy internship program that focuses on bioscience and its connection to biotechnology and sustainable innovation. These internships provide students and early-career professionals the opportunity to work alongside world-class scientists and contribute to cutting-edge research in the lab and beyond. 

From Enzymes to Innovation: Palo Alto Interns 

In our Palo Alto, CA office, interns Bianca Luna Gonzalez, a senior at Santa Clara University, and Osionela Ogiogwa, a junior at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, spent their summer immersed in enzyme research, contributing to projects that advance our understanding of biological systems and their applications in sustainability. 

Bianca’s internship with our biochemistry and molecular biology teams helped us explore enzyme performance and supported our goals in sustainable biotechnology. During her time with us, she examined how the structure of glucoamylase impacts its function in breaking down grains. Bianca used lab techniques to make different enzyme versions in a fungal organism and studies how well they work.  

The organized structure of IFF’s intern program gave me confidence that I would strengthen my abilities in research, data analysis, and communication. –  Bianca Luna Gonzalez, 2025 Intern 

Bianca Luna Gonzalez and her mentors

Osionela’ s work with our biochemistry and analytical chemistry team complemented Bianca’s by focusing on an enzyme that modifies protein structures to potentially improve corn-based animal feed. Using advanced lab tools, she tested the enzyme’s effectiveness and pinpointed its applicable use case —critical data for measuring its efficacy and identifying optimal conditions for use. 

Osionela Ogiogwa

Real-World Impact: Wilmington Interns 

While our Palo Alto interns explored the molecular mechanics of enzymes, in Wilmington, DE, Sriman Nedunuri, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Hayden Nowotarski, a rising junior at Penn State University, brought bioscience to life—one through the art of fragrance creation using microorganisms and the other by simulating real-world environmental conditions to advance sustainable materials.

Hayden Nowotarski and Sriman Nedunuri (l -to- r) 

Sriman’s internship blended chemical engineering with biology to develop an enzyme that produces a unique fragrance compound. He focused on using microorganisms to produce scent molecules. Offering a real-world look at how innovation drives product development. 

I was really impressed by how many different industries IFF is involved in, and how  biotechnology  is used to create scent and food ingredients. – Sriman Nedunuri, 2025 Intern 

Sriman Nedunuri

Hayden’s joining the biological interfacial sciences team supported our Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials (DEB) platform. His daily routine often included setting up assays, preparing stock solutions, and collecting samples from a nearby wastewater treatment plant to simulate environmental conditions. His work helped evaluate biodegradation and contributed directly to our broader sustainability goals. 

Hayden Nowotarski

Interns like Bianca, Hayden, Osionela and Sriman are helping shape the future of bioscience through curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to innovation.  

In addition to our science-based internships, we offer a wide range of opportunities for emerging leaders across all areas of business and support functions. 

Curious about what an internship at IFF is really like? Explore our intern programs and discover how your journey could begin here.