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2027 Intern - Process Development, Upstream

Catalent · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a lab experiment that did not work. What did you do next?

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot thoughtfully and stay patient when biology does not cooperate.

Tell me about a time you worked on a team project with people who had different skill levels.

What they are checking: Whether they work well with scientists and other interns and ask for help when they need it.

Why upstream process development, and where do you see yourself after you graduate?

What they are checking: Whether they have a real interest in bioprocessing that this internship would build on.

What would you do

You notice your culture looks cloudy and your cell counts are strange one morning. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they would report a possible contamination quickly instead of hoping it goes away.

If you were given a small project this summer, how would you plan it so you had results to present by the end?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan a short project with realistic milestones and deliver something useful.

About the work

This internship involves bioreactor operations and mammalian cell culture. What lab experience do you have with cell culture?

What they are checking: Whether they have enough hands-on lab skill to work safely and usefully at the bench from early on.

Can you explain aseptic technique and why it matters so much when working with mammalian cells?

What they are checking: Whether they understand contamination risk well enough to protect cultures that take weeks to grow.

What factors in a bioreactor do you think affect how well cells grow and make protein?

What they are checking: Whether they can reason about pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and feeding even at a classroom level.

How do you keep a lab notebook, and what makes a good entry?

What they are checking: Whether they record work clearly enough that someone else could understand and repeat it.

What do you know about what a contract development and manufacturing organization does?

What they are checking: Whether they have looked into the business and understand that the work supports client programs.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Catalent from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Catalent.

2027 Intern - Process Development, Upstream Position Summary: • Shift: M-F 8am-5pm, Summer 2027 • Location: Madison, WI • 100% Onsite Catalent’s Madison, Wisconsin site is a state‑of‑the‑art biologics development and manufacturing facility supporting customers from research through early‑ and mid‑stage clinical production. Located at 726 Heartland Trail in Madison, the approximately 102,700‑square‑foot GMP facility specializes in mammalian cell line engineering, drug substance biomanufacturing, and biopharmaceutical development, utilizing flexible single‑use systems to enable rapid scale‑up and customization. The site is home to Catalent’s proprietary GPEx® and GPEx® Lightning technologies, which are used to generate high‑yielding mammalian cell lines for biologic therapies, and supports production scales ranging from 50 to 4,000 liters for clinical manufacturing. Following a $45 million expansion announced in 2025, the Madison site has significantly increased capacity, added new equipment, and created approximately 200 highly skilled biohealth jobs, further strengthening its role within Catalent’s global biologics network and Wisconsin’s growing life sciences ecosystem. We have an opportunity for a 2027 Intern - Process Development, Upstream to join our team. This internship offers hands-on experience in bioreactor operations, mammalian cell culture, and process development activities. The role provides exposure to process automation, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration within a biopharmaceutical development environment. It’s a chance to contribute Support upstream process development through bioreactor operations, mammalian cell culture, aseptic techniques, and scale-down model execution. The Role • Execute laboratory studies, collect and analyze experimental data, and maintain accurate documentation in compliance with Good Documentation Practices and company procedures. • Contribute to platform development, process characterization, and GPEx Lightning® cell line development initiatives. • Assist with process automation, digitalization projects, laboratory equipment onboarding, maintenance, and operational support. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, participate in technical discussions, and help prepare reports, presentations, and data summaries. • Promote laboratory excellence by following safety and quality standards, maintaining 5S organization, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The Candidate Minimum Requirements • Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university. • Pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline. • Available to work full-time (40 hours per week) for a 12-week summer internship. • Highly self-motivated, organized, and capable of working effectively in a collaborative team environment. • Ability to perform routine laboratory tasks with strong attention to detail. Preferred Skills & Background • Demonstrated initiative and ownership in project work. • Experience with aseptic techniques in laboratory settings, including work with mammalian or bacterial cells. • Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively. • Interest in platform development and process automation. • Exposure to bioreactor automation and opportunities to enhance platform capabilities. Why You Should Join Catalent • Defined career path with annual performance reviews and feedback process. • Diverse and inclusive culture. • Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives. • Competitive paid time off plus 8 paid holidays. • Community engagement and green initiatives. • Medical, dental, and vision benefits effective day one of employment. • Tuition reimbursement. Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference. personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work. Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities. Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to DisabilityAccommodations@catalent.com . This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process. Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you. Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers: Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond— it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to spam@catalent.com for us to investigate with local authorities. California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE . Volunteer Work Disclosure: Applicants for employment in Massachusetts may include in their employment history any verified work performed on a volunteer basis. Massachusetts Lie Detector Test Notice: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Consistent with Massachusetts law, Catalent does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

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