2026 Summer Intern | Lead Identification – NGS group

Ionis•Carlsbad, CA

6d•$18 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals. At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees. With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive. We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career! Lead Identification – NGS group SUMMARY: We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated undergraduate student who is currently enrolled in a molecular or cellular biology-based program to join the Lead Identification – NGS group as a 2026 summer intern. The intern will work within a fast-paced, highly productive, and collaborative research environment and have the opportunity to make impactful contributions to Ionis’ RNA sequencing (RNAseq) workflow in support of drug discovery. This internship project will focus on implementing and optimizing a new RNAseq assay. The intern will gain hands-on experience with library preparation, lab liquid handlers, and next-generation sequencing. The goal of the project is to compare our current workflow to a new, multiplexed workflow to increase throughput of RNAseq samples while maintaining high data quality.

Requirements

Must be enrolled in an undergraduate molecular biology, cell biology or other related program
Must have completed one quarter/semester of biology or chemistry lab-based coursework
Must be able to commit to full 10 week program
Must be able to commit to 40 hour work week and work onsite in Carlsbad, CA
MUST be able to begin internship between 6/8 and 8/14/2026.
MUST be able and willing to remain in program through at least 8/14/2026.
MUST be currently enrolled in a U.S. Undergraduate and/or Graduate Degree Program and not graduating prior to the completion of the Ionis internship.

Responsibilities

Learn and perform the current RNAseq library preparation protocol to establish a quality benchmark
Assist in optimizing the multiplexed RNAseq protocol to increase assay throughput
Support and learn to write protocols on liquid handlers
Assist with optimization of automation conditions
Learn to QC RNAseq libraries
Load sequencers and understand basic QC metrics
Collaborate with scientists across NGS and automation teams to refine workflows
Present project results at the end of the internship program.