Intern - Lead Discovery (On-site)

Intern - Lead Discovery

We are seeking an Intern to join our Lead Discovery team and gain hands-on experience supporting high-throughput screening (HTS), assay execution, cell culture, and laboratory automation. The intern will work closely with scientists in Lead Discovery and Compound Management to support day-to-day laboratory activities and drug discovery programs. This position is designed to provide practical experience in a fast-paced biotechnology environment while developing technical skills in cell-based assays, screening workflows, automation, and data analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Support routine Lead Discovery and Compound Management activities, including labeling and organizing assay plates and assisting with the preparation of assay-ready plates (ARPs).
• Prepare cell culture media, reagents, and other materials needed to support screening and assay-development activities.
• Learn mammalian cell culture techniques and assist with the maintenance and handling of cell lines used in screening workflows.
• Support scientists with the execution of cell-based HTS assays.
• Assist with plate-based workflows using 96-, 384-, and, where appropriate, 1536-well formats.
• Gain hands-on exposure to automated laboratory equipment such as liquid handlers, reagent dispensers, acoustic dispensers, and plate readers.
• Assist with basic experimental data analysis, interpretation, and documentation under the guidance of Lead Discovery scientists.
• Maintain accurate and timely experimental records and follow established laboratory procedures and safety practices.
• Help with general laboratory organization and other activities needed to keep screening workflows running efficiently.
• Collaborate with members of Lead Discovery, Compound Management, Biology, and other cross-functional teams as needed.

Learning and Development Opportunities

• Develop practical experience in mammalian cell culture and cell-based assay execution.
• Learn the fundamentals of high-throughput screening, assay miniaturization, assay quality, and screening data analysis.
• Gain exposure to laboratory automation and automated screening workflows, including liquid handling, plate movement, detection instrumentation, and assay-ready plate generation.
• Learn how Lead Discovery supports small-molecule drug discovery programs from assay preparation through screening and data review.
• Build scientific communication, organization, troubleshooting, and teamwork skills in an industry research environment.

Programs and Systems May Include

• Multi-mode plate readers such as PHERAstar, EnVision, or ClarioStar.
• Echo acoustic dispensers and other low-volume liquid-handling systems.
• Precise Drop, MultiFlo, Tecan, Hamilton, Beckman, or comparable reagent and liquid-handling platforms.
• Integrated laboratory automation and robotic screening workcells, including HighRes Biosolutions or comparable systems.
• Automated incubators, barcode tracking, plate hotels, and laboratory data-management systems.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program in Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Completed at least one year of undergraduate studies.
• Basic understanding of laboratory practices with prior hands-on laboratory experience through coursework, academic research, or a previous internship.
• Interest in cell biology, drug discovery, high-throughput screening, or laboratory automation.
• Self-driven, dependable, and willing to learn new technical skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established protocols and instructions.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented laboratory environment.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with mammalian cell culture or cell-based assays.
• Exposure to plate-based assays, fluorescence or luminescence measurements, or laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience with basic data analysis using Excel, GraphPad Prism, or similar software.
• Interest in learning automated liquid handling, robotic screening systems, and 384- or 1536-well screening workflows.