2027 Summer Intern: Global Capabilities and Life Science

Overview

At PepsiCo, you’ll have 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—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.

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.

Location

R&D full-time hires are primarily placed in the headquarters locations: Plano, TX, and Purchase/Valhalla, NY. In some cases, full-time hires may be placed in satellite locations. Location preferences will be discussed during the interview process.

Role: R&D Global Capabilities and Life Sciences Specialist

You will participate in providing the framework surrounding four pillars: Technical Insights, Digital Solutions, Compliance or Life Sciences.

Teams Within the Pillars

Measurement Sciences

You will collaborate with cross-functional partners, including product development, quality, ingredients, seasonings, and nutrition globally. You will leverage analytical instruments, methodologies, and procedures to deliver solid and accurate data.

Food Safety and Quality

You will ensure food products are safe for consumption and meet the quality standards.

Digital Solutions

Strong candidates will have a strong foundation in computer science, software engineering/application building, and data visualization, along with an interest in developing user-friendly, robust, and fit-for-purpose applications for R&D. You may explore how statistical experimentation, modeling, and artificial intelligence can be combined to accelerate product development.

Consumer Science

You will lead sensory and consumer product research to enable consumer-informed product-package-process decisions for innovation projects.

Regulatory Affairs

Strong candidates will have a passion for nutrition and food policy, along with interest in regulations, including working with brands to create compliant packaging and product claims.

Life Sciences

You will 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 (by Focus Area)

• Measurement Sciences: Enrolled in a BS, MS, or PhD program in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related chemistry field.
• Food Safety and Quality: Enrolled in a BS program in Food Safety, Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, Food Management, Agricultural Science, Public Health, or Chemistry.
• Digital Solutions: Enrolled in an MS or PhD program in Statistics, Data Science, Biostatistics, Applied Statistics, Statistical Science, or a related field.
• Consumer Science: Enrolled in an 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: Enrolled in a BS program in Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutrition Science, Food Science, or a related field.
• Life Sciences: Currently enrolled in an MS or PhD program in Nutrition Sciences, Public Health, Exercise or Sports Science, Physiology, Behavioral Science, Health Sciences, or a related discipline.

Additional Requirements

• Must graduate with a 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 using internal and/or external resources.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to incorporate business needs into technical decisions.
• Ability and interest to work in 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

• Bachelor’s or master’s/PhD level degree.
• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

Compensation

The expected compensation hourly pay ranges for hires into our 2027 campus intern openings is $21.09 - $55.40 per hour. Role, degree discipline, degree level, and location are part of the process when determining actual starting salary for positions. Hourly pay for campus hires is pre-determined and non-negotiable.

Internship Conversion and Benefits

We love to convert our interns to full-time opportunities. Full-time positions have a comprehensive benefits package to support 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), and a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Equal Employment Opportunity

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 considers for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws.