Biotech Internship

[Shirafune]

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A few members of my lab suggested biotech/pharmaceutical internships while I applied next cycle. I'm going to be graduating in this upcoming June, so probably best to start looking for these programs now.

I'm interested in establishing industry connections (or at least get the experience) for future academia-industry collaborative work because I'm interested in a more research-focused career.

I'd appreciate advice on how to get started, are there a reasonable number of opportunities nationally (such as the Bay Area), where to look, should I just aim for an entry-level biotech job instead, etc.

Thanks!

 

[canttellmenothin]

I did one this summer. It wasn't a year long thing which it sounds like you are looking for and it was more on the corporate/product development side. To get started just check out the open jobs on the major biotech/pharma company websites. I know for the bay area Genentech has a large presence there. When I was looking most were for just the summer or a co-op type deal where you were part time during the school year. Personally I think it would be tough to get a entry level position if you're planning on applying that year. I just don't know how happy they'd be having to train you just so you leave/take time off for interviews, especially if you are upfront with them about your intentions of applying to med school. But best of luck! If you want an "internship" strictly in research, check out the NIH IRTA. It's for recent grads and I think 1 or 2 years.

 

[Glashutte32]

I interned in big pharma R&D after my junior year of undergrad and it was one of the best decisions I've made. I did primarily organic chemistry research there and it motivated me to work in life science consulting before applying.

That said, I second what the poster above said -- very few companies have one year entry level R&D gigs for while you're applying. Most starter positions in R&D require a masters or PhD. What you could do is find an internship and see if they'd be willing to keep you on as a contractor or something similar to that. I know people that did this and it was offered to me but we didn't pursue it much beyond ideation.

The main exception here are the post college rotational programs that some companies had. The firm at which I worked at a 2-year science/engineering rotational program (ie you try 3 research departments for 8 months each). All or most will be 2 years but I think it'd be worth the extra year if you can snag a spot.

Geographically, the companies are clustered in three main areas: New Jersey, Bay area, and greater Chicago. Genentech as mentioned above is in SF as well as a lot of the biotechs but the biggest players are going to be based out of NJ (think Pfizer, Merck, BMS, Novo, JnJ, Novartis, Sanofi, etc etc). Chicago has a strip of major pharma companies in the northern burbs - Abbvie, Baxter/Baxalta, Astellas, Takeda

 

[Shirafune]

Thanks for the responses. Most of the big Bay Area companies come to our school's job/career fair, so I guess I might just start there to ask about temporary internship programs. My MCAT would expire if I applied next next cycle, so if most positions don't fit with my timeline, I might just have to stick to a junior specialist or lab tech position in my current lab (hopefully) or another lab willing to take me on.