Internship Process Engineering – Biopolymer Materials for Oyster Reef Restoration
Internship Opportunity: Process Engineering for Oyster Reef Restoration Materials
Internship Process Engineering
BESE develops biodegradable and circular products for ecosystem restoration in aquatic environments around the world. Using specially designed products, we help kick-start natural recovery processes, allowing habitats to restore themselves. Our mission is to accelerate ecosystem restoration worldwide through biodegradable products and applied ecological knowledge. Wherever possible, we work with biobased materials derived from renewable natural resources.
BESE continuously explores new solutions and applications for biobased and biodegradable materials. Research and development plays a central role in this process. Our work focuses on optimisation, new applications, and innovative products for ecosystem restoration.
We are currently looking for a student interested in the following internship opportunity.
Internship Details
Main focus: Scaling up a specific production process involving biopolymer-based materials. This project requires an understanding of chemical interactions in polymer systems. In addition, support in fieldwork, analysis and warehouse activities may occasionally be required.
Start date: September/October 2026
Duration: 3–6 months
Application deadline: 20 July 2026
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a student who understands that industrial processes are not determined solely by mechanics, but also by physical and chemical interactions.
Educational Background
You are currently enrolled in a university-level programme such as:
- Chemical Engineering
- Process Engineering
- Chemical Technology
- Materials Engineering
- or a comparable field
You:
- Think in terms of cause-and-effect relationships rather than simply following process steps.
- Have an interest in:
- complex fluids and material behaviour
- viscosity and flow behaviour
- interactions between components
- Can independently design and execute experiments.
- Enjoy iterative improvement and troubleshooting.
- Are analytical and critical, continually asking why processes succeed or fail.
- Combine practical hands-on work with technical problem-solving.
- Have an interest in ecology and ecosystem restoration.
Preferably
- Experience with materials whose properties change during processing.
- Interest in scale-up from laboratory to pilot-scale production.
Where will the internship take place?
BESE consists of a research team of six enthusiastic colleagues who collaborate with universities, manufacturers and our sister company Waardenburg Ecology, an ecological consultancy employing approximately 175 specialists.
As an intern, you will become part of the BESE research team and primarily work from our office, laboratory and workshop facilities in Culemborg, the Netherlands.
The challenge
The material you will work with behaves differently from conventional systems such as concrete or standard adhesives.
During processing, properties may change, including:
- Viscosity
- Processability
- Phase behaviour
These changes are highly dependent on:
- Interactions between components
- Concentrations and environmental conditions
- Mixing methods and mixing sequence
Small variations in processing conditions can therefore have a major impact on the final product.
Central Research Question
How can a reproducible and scalable production process be designed and optimised for a material whose performance is strongly influenced by chemical interactions during processing?
Intership assignment
During this internship, you will work on scaling up a production process from laboratory scale to intermediate-scale production (tens of litres and beyond).
Your responsibilities include:
- Designing and testing different processing and mixing strategies.
- Investigating the effects of:
- process sequence
- mixing intensity
- concentrations and environmental conditions
- time-dependent material behaviour
- Developing and operating an intermediate-scale test setup (approximately 20–50 litres).
- Identifying process bottlenecks, such as:
- inhomogeneity
- undesired phase behaviour
- processing limitations
- Translating laboratory results into a practical and scalable production process.
- Documenting findings in clear process descriptions and recommendations.
In addition, you will occasionally assist with fieldwork, material testing and practical activities within the workshop.
What We Offer
- A challenging technical internship with direct impact.
- The opportunity to contribute to innovative materials for ecosystem restoration.
- Significant freedom to develop and test your own ideas.
- Supervision and collaboration with universities and external partners.
- A workplace combining office, laboratory and workshop environments.
- A unique combination of process engineering, materials science and nature restoration.
About BESE
Aquatic ecosystems play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, capturing carbon and protecting coastlines and riverbanks from erosion and flooding.
Over the past century, approximately 65% of the world’s aquatic and coastal ecosystems have been degraded or lost. Ecosystem degradation affects the well-being of an estimated 3.2 billion people worldwide.
The BESE product line, with BESE-elements as its flagship product, provides a sustainable alternative to traditional restoration methods that rely on plastics and concrete. Our products mimic natural structures such as root systems, plant stems and shellfish reefs. Over time, the materials gradually biodegrade, leaving behind a self-sustaining natural ecosystem.
Founded in 2018, BESE aims to demonstrate that ecosystem restoration can be achieved without plastics and concrete. Through global collaboration, knowledge exchange and continuous product innovation, we help restore nature in vulnerable environments worldwide.
We work on product development, material performance research and new restoration applications while supporting both ecosystems and local communities.
Would you like to contribute to the future of biodegradable materials for ecosystem restoration?
Send your CV and motivation letter as soon as possible to:
For questions, you can contact Peter Vodegel
p.s.m.vodegel@bese-products.com
+31-626434969
