Company Description
As a global key player in yeasts and fermentation, Lesaffre designs, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for Baking, Food taste & pleasure, Health care and Biotechnology.
Family group born in northern France in 1853, now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre is committed to working with confidence to better nourish and protect the planet.
In close collaboration with its clients and partners, Lesaffre employs 11 000 people in more than 50 countries.
Lesaffre achieves a turnover of 3 billion euros.
For over 30 years, Lesaffre has been involved in Human Health & Nutrition as part of its ambition to Better Nourish and Protect the Planet. In November 2018, Lesaffre acquired Gnosis Advanced Biotech and officially combined it with Lesaffre Human Care to form a new Business Unit named Gnosis by Lesaffre.
Gnosis by Lesaffre is the business unit dedicated to human health.
At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we are committed to cultivating and to delivering nutritional actives, biotics, and nutritional yeasts that benefit human health and wellbeing, thanks to the power of microorganisms and biotransformation processes like fermentation. Put differently, we explore life to improve living.
Our vision: At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we strive for a world that moves better, digests better, ages better, feels better, and, ultimately, lives better thanks to microorganisms and fermentation.
Job Description
🌱 Gnosis by Lesaffre – Pioneering Fermentation for Health & Nutrition
At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we harness the power of fermentation to develop innovative nutritional & health solutions. As part of Lesaffre, a global leader in yeast & fermentation, we combine cutting-edge biotechnology with decades of expertise to improve human and animal well-being.
🚀 Join Gnosis by Lesaffre's R&D Team & Innovate in Biotech !
Are you passionate about analytical chemistry, biotechnology, and research? Looking for an international experience in a cutting-edge R&D environment? This VIE opportunity at Gnosis by Lesaffre in Italy is your chance to dive into the world of fermentation, purification, and chemical analysis!
🔬 Your Mission : Contribute to Groundbreaking R&D Projects !
As part of the R&D team at Gnosis by Lesaffre, you will:
🧪 Develop & Optimize Analytical Methods – Improve techniques for analyzing biological and chemical samples.
🔍 Extract & Purify Active Ingredients – Work with biological and fermentative matrices.
📊 Run Stability Tests – Ensure product quality and efficiency over time.
📝 Draft Technical Reports – Document research findings and methodologies.
⚙️ Support Lab Operations – Manage reagents, materials, and equipment needs.
📍 Why Desio ? A Strategic Location in Italy 🇮🇹
Desio is a vibrant town near Milan, offering the perfect mix of professional opportunities and Italian lifestyle. Here’s why you’ll love it:
✨ Close to Milan – Italy’s business & innovation hub 🏙️
✨ 2 hours from Parma – The food capital of Italy, famous for Parmesan & Prosciutto 🧀🍷
✨ Beautiful landscapes – From Lake Como to the Italian Alps 🏞️
Plus, you won’t be alone—other VIEs will be in Italy at the same time, creating a great network of young international talents! 🌍🤝
Qualifications
🎓 Who are we looking for ?
✔️ Master’s degree 🎓 in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, or a related field.
🔬 Lab Enthusiast – You love working in a research environment and handling chemical analysis.
🧠 Analytical Thinker – You enjoy solving problems with data-driven insights.
💻 Tech-Savvy – Comfortable with Excel, Business Intelligence tools & possibly automation (UiPath).
📢 Strong Communicator – Able to present findings and collaborate in an international environment.
🌟 Proactive & Curious – You love learning, taking initiative, and exploring new ideas.
🗣️ Fluent in English (Italian is a plus 🇮🇹).
Additional Information
📍 Location : Desio (near Milan), Italy
📆 Duration: 24 months
🗓 Start Date: Q3 2025
🔥 Why apply for this VIE?
✅ Gain international R&D experience in a top biotech company 🌍.
✅ Work in state-of-the-art facilities & contribute to high-impact projects.
✅ Live near Milan & Parma, two of Italy’s most exciting cities 🇮🇹.
✅ Join a network of VIEs in Italy – you won’t be alone (We are currently recruiting for another VIE position in Desio! 👥
✅ Career opportunities beyond the VIE – Lesaffre aims to retain its VIEs, with potential future roles across Europe, LATAM, Asia, and more ! 🚀
📢 Recruitment Process
1️⃣ CV Screening – We review your application carefully 📄
2️⃣ First Interview – Introductory chat with HR 🗣️
3️⃣ Technical Interview – Meet the local R&D team and discuss your expertise 🧑🔬
4️⃣ Final Interview – Get to know our management team 🎯
📝 VIE Program – Are you eligible ?
To apply, you must:
✔️ Be between 18 and 28 years old 🎂.
✔️ Be a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) 🇪🇺.
✔️ Not have already completed a VIE.
More details here: VIE Program Info
🎟️ Ready to kick-start your global R&D career? Apply now and be part of the future of biotechnology at Gnosis by Lesaffre! ✨🔬
[Diversity & Inclusion]: At Lesaffre, diversity is a strength that enriches our culture and our teams. We are committed to offering you a work environment where you can thrive, regardless of your background, gender, age or abilities. We encourage all applications, as we believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to innovate and meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Top Skills
What We Do
A key global player in fermentation for more than a century, Lesaffre, with a €2.7 billion turnover, and established on all continents, counts 11,000 employees and 96 nationalities. On the strength of this experience and diversity, we work with customers, partners, and researchers to find ever more relevant answers to the needs of food, health, naturalness and respect for our environment. Thus, every day, we explore and reveal the infinite potential of microorganisms. To nourish 9 billion people, in a healthy way, in 2050 by making the most of our planet’s resources is a major and unprecedented issue. We believe that fermentation is one of the most promising answers to this challenge.
