Cybersecurity Intern

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.•San Diego, CA

9h•$22 - $22•Hybrid

About The Position

Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference. The Cybersecurity Intern supports the Cybersecurity team by contributing to strategic initiatives, operational projects, and day-to-day business activities. This role is designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experience in a professional pharmaceutical environment, offering exposure to cross-functional collaboration, business processes, and industry best practices. This intern will learn and assist with various cybersecurity systems by working with security systems, vendors, and Acadia cybersecurity team members. The intern will participate in one or more projects during the summer intern program, including assisting in the onboarding, improving, and documenting of cybersecurity systems and processes. Learn more about our internship program here.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems/Information Technology, or Computer Engineering.
Minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred.
Ability to follow a process carefully, pay attention to details, and document work clearly.
Communication and teamwork skills: comfortable asking questions, sharing what you tried, and collaborating with others to solve problems.
Professionalism and integrity when handling sensitive information (security work often involves confidential data).
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends.
Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
High level of professionalism, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment.
Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Prior internship, leadership experience, campus involvement, or project-based work preferred.
Interest in the pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology industry strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Help identify and track security weaknesses by reviewing results from scanning tools (systems that check for missing updates, risky settings, or known issues) and document the findings to help verify when fixes are applied.
Support investigation of security incidents (examples: suspicious sign-ins, malware warnings, or phishing emails) by gathering basic details (time, device, user impact) and writing clear notes so others can act quickly.
Learn and practice secure, professional habits such as protecting sensitive information, following documented processes, and asking questions early when something is unclear.
Review and triage security alerts using monitoring software that collects activity from computers and online services (often called a security event monitoring or SIEM tool). Flag items that look unusual and escalate to a mentor when needed.
Own automation project focused on making daily security operations more efficient and consistent to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks by creating a simple, repeatable way to gather and organize securityrelated information that the team reviews regularly.
Participate in team meetings, planning sessions, and strategic discussions to gain exposure to business operations and contribute insights where appropriate.
Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and alignment with company values in all interactions.
Complete a final presentation summarizing internship contributions and key learnings.

Benefits

Competitive base, bonus, new hire and ongoing equity packages
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer-paid life, disability, business travel and EAP coverage
401(k) Plan with a fully vested company match 1:1 up to 5%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 2-year purchase price lock-in
15+ vacation days
13 -15 paid holidays, including office closure between December 24th and January 1st
10 days of paid sick time
Paid parental leave benefit
Tuition assistance