Intern, Research & Development (R&D)

1-800-Flowers.com Internship Program

Position Title: Research & Development (R&D) Intern
Department: Research & Development – Operations

Location: Westerville, OH
Duration: Summer 10-12 weeks
Hours: Full-Time

About 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc.

1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. is a leading provider of gifts designed to help customers express, connect, and celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. Our family of brands includes Harry & David, Cheryl’s Cookies, PersonalizationMall.com, Things Remembered and more.

As part of our internship program, you’ll gain hands-on experience, learn from industry experts, and contribute to projects that directly impact how we deliver smiles every day.

Position Summary

The Research & Development (R&D) Intern will support the Westerville Operations R&D team by assisting with bench-top product development, ingredient experimentation, and ongoing product innovation initiatives.

This internship provides hands-on lab exposure and insight into the full product development lifecycle—from formulation testing to documentation and presentation. The intern will contribute to active R&D projects, including ingredient reformulation initiatives, while also completing an independent experimental project to present to the R&D team at the conclusion of the internship.

This role is ideal for students pursuing Food Science or a related scientific discipline who are detail-oriented, analytical, and excited to gain real-world laboratory experience in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities (All Interns)

• Support department initiatives through research, documentation, and project coordination

• Assist with cross-functional collaboration across Operations, Quality, and Production teams

• Attend team meetings, present findings, and share progress with stakeholders

• Participate in internship learning sessions, networking opportunities, and workshops

• Contribute ideas to enhance product quality and innovation

Research & Development Responsibilities

• Assist with bench-top development of new and existing food products

• Support ingredient testing, formulation adjustments, and product evaluations

• Participate in a major initiative focused on replacing synthetic FD&C colors with natural alternatives

• Conduct ingredient functionality trials and document results accurately

• Assist with product specification reviews and technical documentation

• Support shelf-life validation and testing initiatives

• Follow lab protocols, safety standards, and regulatory compliance guidelines

• Complete an independent experimental project and present findings to the R&D team

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Culinary Science (with scientific focus), or a related field

• Strong interest in food product development and ingredient functionality

• Lab experience through coursework or prior internships preferred

• Understanding of food safety principles and regulatory considerations is a plus

• Strong documentation and organizational skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and basic data tracking

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a lab-based environment

• Detail-oriented with the ability to follow procedures precisely

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on laboratory experience in food product development

• Exposure to real-world formulation challenges and ingredient reformulation initiatives

• Experience working on active R&D projects within a food manufacturing operation

• Opportunity to design and present an independent experimental project

• Professional development workshops and mentorship opportunities

• Networking with interns and leaders across multiple corporate functions

• A portfolio of impactful work that supports meaningful customer experiences

The expected hourly rate for this position is $19.00. The actual compensation will be determined by experience and other factors permitted by the law.

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