2026 U.S Summer Internship Program: Drug discovery Research Intern

Takeda • Boston, MA

1d • $21 - $46 • Onsite

About The Position

At Takeda, we are a forward-looking, world-class R&D organization that unlocks innovation and delivers transformative therapies to patients. By focusing R&D efforts on three therapeutic areas and other targeted investments, we push the boundaries of what is possible in order to bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. The Liver Disease Research Team within the Gastroenterology and Inflammation Drug Discovery Unit (GI² DDU) is dedicated to validating novel therapeutic targets and evaluating drug candidates for the treatment of chronic fibroinflammatory liver diseases. Our division-sponsored program offers students a valuable opportunity to work in an innovative and collaborative environment, where cross-functional research drives the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents to benefit patients. Participants will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced setting, contributing to cutting-edge research projects. The program also provides diverse opportunities to collaborate within a matrixed organization and engage with scientists from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds.

Requirements

• Must be pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in a relevant Field of Study
• This position is fully onsite: 5 days per week
• Conducts complex experiments within a project scope, exercising judgement to evaluate a variety of technical factors, and obtain optimum solutions.
• Utilizes assigned literature to increase knowledge base and implement improvements.
• Organize time and plan specifics of project related work with oversight from manager or project representative
• A foundational knowledge of cell biology, pharmacology, and biochemistry is preferred.
• This position requires full-time commitment, necessitating five days of on-site work.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a collaborative team member.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a permanent basis without requiring sponsorship
• Must be currently enrolled in a degree program graduating December 2026 or later
• The internship program is 10-12 weeks depending on the two start dates (May 26th-August 14th or June 15th- August 21st)
• The intern must be able to commit to one of these time frames
• Able to work full time 40 hours a week during internship dates
• Applications will be accepted between October 31st- November 16th

Nice To Haves

• Design and execute functional assays to evaluate the pharmacology of potential drug targets.
• Utilizing either 2D or innovative 3D liver spheroid/organoid ex vivo system to assess the efficacy and/or target engagement of potential drug targets that enables Go/No go decisions.
• Gain practical exposure to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to move project forward in the pipeline.
• Prepare oral presentations to the functional team.

Responsibilities

• Apply scientific and technical expertise in cell biology and pharmacology to drive drug discovery programs within our team.
• Designs and executes relevant target and drug candidate validation studies using contemporary methods and tools (including but not limited to RT-qPCR, ELISA, MSD, and flow cytometry).
• Prepare technical reports, summaries, protocols, and quantitative analyses in written and/or oral form.
• Drive an inclusive, open, and effective culture in a fast-growing drug discovery group.

Benefits

• Paid sick time
• Civic Duty paid time off
• Participation at company volunteer events
• Participation at company sponsored special events
• Access to on-site f itness c enter (where a vailable )
• Commuter Benefit: To offset your work-commute expenses, Takeda provides U.S. employees with a fixed monthly subsidy to be used for either public transportation (transit) or parking.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees