Our ten-week Summer of Science Internship Program provides research training opportunities for students to actively contribute to a team project in industry research. This program enables students to gain research experience that enhances their preparation for careers in biomedical research and application to top graduate programs. Interns will learn about BR’s approach to patient-driven research as they work on their own research project under the guidance of a BR scientist mentor at our research facilities in Cambridge, Massachusetts or San Diego, California. BR's research covers many disease, science, and technology areas that allow us to closely match each intern’s specific interests with one of our labs. Double majors and/or minors in both STEM and business or finance are also encouraged to apply for a limited number of slots to be paired with BR finance mentor.
About the program
A BR Summer Internship is a unique opportunity for college students to gain research experience in a biomedical industry setting. Interns are mentored by BR scientists who are passionate about patient-driven approaches to drug discovery research and motivated to enhance students’ preparation for doctoral degree programs. We strongly encourage students who are attending or have recently attended Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) or Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs) to apply. We also encourage students from IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) programs, which are statewide biomedical research networks of higher education and research institutions in IDeA-states and Puerto Rico to apply.
Program highlights
As a Summer Intern, you will design and conduct your own project with mentoring from a BR scientist. You will also participate in a vibrant research community while engaging in opportunities for professional development.
- Research project: designing and executing experiments; analyzing your own data, learning new experimental techniques, and building your understanding of scientific concepts
- Scientific development: learning about drug discovery projects from Life Sciences industry experts; showcasing your results to the broader Novartis BR community; evaluating scientific articles in a fun and interactive setting
- Professional development: exploring the diversity of career options of a scientist in the biomedical industry, while cultivating your network with fellow interns and BR scientific leaders
- Social activities: fostering collegial interactions during formal and informal social activities; participating in welcome and farewell events
Eligibility
Inclusion of the broadest and best talent is very important to us. We encourage applications from talented individuals who are currently underserved in the sciences as defined by NIH. Examples include first-generation college students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, individuals with learning differences, underserved populations, and individuals with a disability that inhibits one or more major life activities. We also encourage Military veterans to apply who are currently enrolled in a 4-year college/university. All candidates would need to meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the start of the program
- Applicants must have completed at least three semesters or four quarters at an accredited U.S. college or university before the start of the internship
- Applicants must attend a school in a U.S. state or territory and be eligible to work in the United States
- Applicants must have a strong desire to pursue a Ph.D. in a biomedical field
- Applicants should have a GPA of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale
Students who are enrolled in Ph.D., Master’s, PharmD, or M.D. programs are not eligible to apply to this program.
Pay
The program is a paid, full-time, research opportunity. Pay is competitive with local internship wages.
Housing and Travel: Financial support for housing, travel, and local transit systems will be provided based on the Company's non-discriminatory assessment. All interns have the opportunity to reside in local university residences within the heart of the city, where access to local transit systems is readily available.
Health Insurance: The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law requires that all adult residents (permanent and temporary), age 18 and older, must have health insurance. In Cambridge, health insurance will be provided to those who will not have continuous coverage from another source during the summer.
Locations: BR Summer Internships are available at our research headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts or our West Coast site in San Diego, California.
Application process
Deadlines
| Application Deadline | Intern Notifications | Start Date | Program Length |
| November 25, 2024 | February 2025 | June 2, 2025 | 10 weeks |
Online application
To apply, you must use the link to the application portal below. Please note that this on-line application process requires uploading a Cover Letter, Personal Statement, Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV), 3 letters of references, and an official transcript from your academic institution. All documents uploaded must use the pdf file format.
Please click the link below to apply. The application link will be active only during the open application period. All application materials must be received by the deadlines indicated in the application portal.
Use this link: https://nibr-bei.smapply.io/ to begin the application process. You will have the opportunity to select one or more areas of interest in the on-line application.
All applicants will receive an automated email notification that their application has been received. Applicants chosen for interviews will be contacted between December through February. Successful applicants will be notified for offers on a rolling basis through the end of February.
For questions regarding the BR Summer of Science Internship Program, please contact us at the following email: [email protected]. Please note, we are not able to accept or respond to applications sent by email.