Do you get excited by the idea of turning side-streams into functional, high-value food ingredients? Are you ready to dive into the practical side of food innovation - from lab testing to real-world use cases?

At Livoo, we’re offering a unique opportunity for a Master’s student to explore the functional potential of OATup, our upcycled oat protein, and contribute to the development of sustainable, plant-based products. Whether you're passionate about protein science, formulation, or food systems, this project combines research, experimentation, and impact in one.

Who are we looking for? 

We welcome students in the final year of their master's program, ideally in fields such as:

• Food Science & Technology

• Nutrition & Health

• Food Product Development

• Biotechnology (specializing in food systems)

• Agricultural Engineering (with focus on food applications)

Key skills and interests

Food Ingredient Functionality 

You understand protein behavior, from soubility to emulsifying and gelling, and are familiar with plant-based systems

Experimental Design & Analysis

You’ve worked in the lab or coordinated bench-top trials, and know your way around methods like SDS-PAGE, texture analysis, or viscosity and pH testing.

Sensory testing or formulation experience is a big plus!

Literature & Market Research

You enjoy digging into both science and market trends, whether it's mapping protein snack innovations or exploring functional gaps in the plant-based space.

You hold a valid driver’s license (category B).

What will you work on?

One potential thesis project could focus on:

“Functional Characterization and Application Exploration of OATup: An Upcycled Oat Protein Ingredient”

The work will include:

1. Core functional properties: solubility, thermal stability, emulsification, etc.
2. High-potential application areas: dairy alternatives, meat analogues, sports nutrition, bakery, etc.
3. Bench-level prototyping or coordination with labs
4. Use-case and claim development
5. Strategic recommendations for the product pipeline

What you will deliver

• Functional analysis report
• Application matrix & tech briefs
• Formulation recommendations
• Executive summary for sales & marketing use

When and where?

Your background and interests

We’re looking for someone who’s:

• Curious about alternative proteins, sustainable food systems, and upcycling
• Comfortable working both in the lab and behind a screen
• Strong communicator and able to translate technical data into clear insights for non-scientific audiences
• Bonus: experience with oat or plant-based formulation projects

What you'll get from us

• Mentorship from our innovation and product development team
• Access to ingredient samples, functional data, and target client segments
• Opportunity to contribute to real product development or B2B materials
• A unique look into how novel ingredients move from R&D to commercialization
• And perhaps: a longer collaboration beyond the internship or thesis!

Application

Whether you're looking to dive deeper into the functional applications of OATup, contribute to a growing sustainability-focused company, or make your master’s thesis truly meaningful, this could be the opportunity for you. 

Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us with a short motivation and your CV, and let’s explore how we can work together.

If you have any questions, please contact Juan Carrillo, VP of ingredients at Livoo, at juan.carrillo@livoofoods.com.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Please apply no later than August 15, 2025.