Pharmaceutical Lab Internship (Crystallization) Summer 2027

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

Summer internships will range between the months of May and August. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program.

At Varda, interns are trusted contributors in mission-critical work. As a part of the pharma team, you will work hands-on with our team to support the experimental screening and analysis of small molecule or biologic crystallization. You will gain meaningful experience working at the intersection of pharmaceutical chemistry, materials science, and experimental process design.

This internship is best suited for highly motivated students with prior research or lab experience in crystallization. You'll be part of a fast-paced, rigorous environment that values precision, scientific curiosity, and teamwork.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success.

Responsibilities

• Perform purification of protein and protein complexes
• Conduct purity and charge variant analysis via SDS-PAGE and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF)
• Assess protein integrity before and after freeze-drying stress.
• Perform biophysical characterization of protein candidates using orthogonal analytical techniques to assess structure, stability, and interaction behavior
• Conduct crystallization screening of protein and protein complexes
• Scale-up crystallization processes
• Report findings clearly to the broader R&D team
• Help optimize crystallization conditions through iterative testing

Basic Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited bachelor's or graduate degree program 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 Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with pharmaceutical crystallization
• Coursework in:
• Math & Physics: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Heat/Mass Transfer
• Chemistry: Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Spectroscopy
• Lab Techniques: Synthetic chemistry (IR, Mass Spec, HNMR), distillations, separations
• Exposure to programming or data analysis (Python, statistical tools)
• Familiarity with one or more of the listed biophysical characterization techniques (DLS, nanoDSF, SEC, CD, or capillary electrophoresis)
• Background in protein formulation, biologics drug product development, or protein biochemistry

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

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