Summer Intern/ViiV Translational Research & HIV Cure

GSK Internships & Co-ops powered by Atrium • Durham, NC

26d • $21 - $40

About The Position

The Translational Research and HIV Cure team within ViiV Healthcare is looking for a summer intern to test various lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations in a pre-defined suite of assays. The primary goal of this work is to generate novel LNP formulations and determine transfectional efficiency as well as specific cellular uptake of LNPs in primary cell cultures. All assays will be run and analysis performed in accordance with established protocols.
The selected candidate’s responsibilities will include, but not limited to:
Purify and concentrate preparatory lots of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations using molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) and dead-end filtration.
Characterize the concentrated LNP preparations using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and RNA quantification assays.
Distribute and label LNP preps into single use aliquots.
Treat PBMC and isolated T cell cultures with LNP preps using 96-well plate format.
Run treated cultures on flow cytometry assays to determine LNP transfectional efficiency and select uptake in different cellular populations.
Analyze resultant data and carefully document experimental methods and findings in electronic lab notebooks or forms associated with assay protocols.
Attend team meetings and present results to the broader research team.

Requirements

• Pursuing a PhD or MS in Immunology, Virology, Nanomedicine/Nanotechnology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of laboratory experience in immunology, virology, nanomedicine, or a related field.
• Must be able to work full-time (35-40 hours/week) throughout the duration of the 12-week internship (May/June-August 2026).
• Must have an active student status and/or within 12 months post-graduation from a MS degree program. Post-doctoral candidates are not eligible.
• Must successfully pass a drug screen and background check prior to assignment target start date.
• Once your application is submitted, you will be prompted to complete our immersive GSK Digital Assessment. A passing score is required to proceed in the application process. After completing the assessment, a recruiter will review your application and contact you with next steps.
• Please note: If you do not receive an automated email after submitting your application, be sure to check your spam folder.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with human blood and other donor specimens.
• Experience formulating and purifying compounds and LNPs from stock solutions using dead-end and molecular weight cut-off filtration.
• Experience testing samples in cuvette based DLS or spectrometry assays; Work with conducting zeta potential assays on a Malvern Zetasizer instrument preferred.
• Quantifying nucleic acid concentration using dye-based spectrometry assays.
• Experience working with human blood and other donor specimens.
• Experience isolating and culturing primary PBMCs and T cells using aseptic technique in a biosafety cabinet.
• Ability to run compound and LNP treatment assays on primary cells in 96-well format.
• Experience with running and analyzing data from 8 color flow cytometry assays.
• Documentation of assay results in electronic notebook entries or in report forms associated with the assay protocols.

Responsibilities

• Purify and concentrate preparatory lots of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations using molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) and dead-end filtration.
• Characterize the concentrated LNP preparations using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and RNA quantification assays.
• Distribute and label LNP preps into single use aliquots.
• Treat PBMC and isolated T cell cultures with LNP preps using 96-well plate format.
• Run treated cultures on flow cytometry assays to determine LNP transfectional efficiency and select uptake in different cellular populations.
• Analyze resultant data and carefully document experimental methods and findings in electronic lab notebooks or forms associated with assay protocols.
• Attend team meetings and present results to the broader research team.

Benefits

• While GSK embraces a flexible work environment, we do require certain positions to be onsite. Candidates who are hired for an on-site role or hybrid role, and reside outside of 50-miles from their assigned work location, are eligible for relocation stipend. This is a one-time payment to help offset housing & relocation expenses. Please refer to the position details for the requirements of each position.
• GSK Interns and Co-ops are offered a competitive hourly pay rate and benefits. Please note, benefits eligibility determined the month following date of hire.
• This job posting is for a temporary role as an employee of Atrium on assignment at GSK. The individual selected for this role will be offered the role as an employee of Atrium; compensation, medical benefits, fringe benefits and other terms and conditions of employment shall be presented by Atrium upon offer. The pay rate range provided is a reasonable estimate of the anticipated compensation range for this job at the time of posting. The actual pay rate will be based on several factors, including skills, competencies, experience, educational degree obtained, location and/or being pursued and other job-related factors permitted by law.
• In addition, this role will be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree