Undergraduate R&D Wet Lab Summer Internship – Gaithersburg, MD

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

2d • $37 - $39 • Onsite

About The Position

Calling all curious minds, lab lovers, and future changemakers! This summer don’t just intern—make an impact. At AstraZeneca, you’ll dive into real science, work alongside world-class researchers, and contribute to discoveries that could change patients’ lives. If you're an undergraduate passionate about biology, chemistry, data science, or biotechnology, this is your opportunity to transform classroom learning into real-world impact . Gain hands-on lab experience, grow your professional network, and discover what it means to innovate at the forefront of science with a global biopharma leader. Overview: AstraZeneca’s Internship Program offers undergraduate students a 10–12-week summer experience in our Research & Development laboratories. Interns contribute to real projects, develop technical skills, and learn our ways of working across discovery and translational science. Applications close January 2, 2026 . Candidates are reviewed on a rolling basis; this posting may close quickly due to high application volume. Interview timelines may vary by function. Possible Scope of Work: Execute experiments : Perform cell culture, aseptic technique, ELISA/ligand binding assays, qPCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and high-content imaging under supervision. Experiments can involve the below: Support molecular biology : Conduct DNA/RNA extraction, cloning, transfection, CRISPR-based gene editing, and expression analysis aligned to project needs. Assist protein/analytical work : Contribute to protein purification, HPLC/UPLC, mass spectrometry sample prep, and stability assessments where applicable. Capture and analyze data : Maintain accurate electronic lab notebooks, follow SOPs, apply appropriate statistics, and present findings in team meetings. Follow safety and quality procedures : Adhere to EHS and biosafety requirements; support lab maintenance and reagent inventory. Possible Teams You'll Work with: Oncology R&D : Target validation and antibody–drug conjugate workflows from hit finding to biomarker assay development. BioPharmaceuticals R&D: Cardiovascular, Renal, & Metabolism; Respiratory & Immunology : In vitro and ex vivo models to evaluate pharmacology and disease biology; biomarker and functional assays. Vaccines & Immune Therapies : Cellular immunoassays, cytokine profiling, flow cytometry, and formulation characterization. Biologics Engineering & Biopharmaceutical Development : Molecular cloning, expression and purification, biophysical characterization, and developability assessments. Translational Science : Assay development/qualification, sample handling workflows, and data packages informing early clinical studies.

Requirements

• Work authorization : Immediately authorized to work in the U.S. This role will not provide CPT support.
• Enrollment and Graduation Date : Undergraduate student enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. college/university at the time of application. Must have a graduation date after August 2026.
• Currently pursuing a Master’s or PhD? Please apply to our internship postings tailored to your specific year in school.
• Age : At least 18 years old prior to start date.
• On-site presence : Ability to commute to Gaithersburg, MD. On-site presence required.
• Safety readiness : Must be comfortable following lab safety protocols, including wearing PPE and avoiding items that interfere with sterile technique.

Nice To Haves

• Field of study : Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related STEM disciplines.
• Technical skills : Experience with basic wet lab techniques (e.g., cell culture, ELISA/qPCR, Western blot); familiarity with data tools (e.g., Excel, GraphPad Prism, R or Python).
• Communication : Ability to summarize results, prepare figures, and present to multidisciplinary teams.
• Team mindset : Collaborative, detail-oriented, and eager to learn in a fast-paced research environment.

Responsibilities

• Execute experiments : Perform cell culture, aseptic technique, ELISA/ligand binding assays, qPCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and high-content imaging under supervision.
• Support molecular biology : Conduct DNA/RNA extraction, cloning, transfection, CRISPR-based gene editing, and expression analysis aligned to project needs.
• Assist protein/analytical work : Contribute to protein purification, HPLC/UPLC, mass spectrometry sample prep, and stability assessments where applicable.
• Capture and analyze data : Maintain accurate electronic lab notebooks, follow SOPs, apply appropriate statistics, and present findings in team meetings.
• Follow safety and quality procedures : Adhere to EHS and biosafety requirements; support lab maintenance and reagent inventory.

What This Job Offers

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