Discovery Medicinal Chemistry Internship

About the role#

This internship provides an undergraduate student the opportunity to learn about the role of organic chemistry in drug discovery research. You will gain hands-on training in the skills and tools used by drug discovery chemists while working within the Discovery Chemistry group. This is a full-time, paid position for the Summer 2027 term.

What you'll do#

• Work collaboratively with a Johnson & Johnson scientist.
• Synthesize, purify, and characterize novel drug-like compounds.
• Enable reaction discovery to address key synthetic challenges.
• Participate and present at project team meetings.
• Gain exposure to various other functions within drug discovery teams.
• Participate in campus-wide activities across the La Jolla summer intern community.

What you'll need#

• Enrollment as a sophomore, junior, or senior student pursuing a B.S. degree or equivalent in chemistry at an accredited college or university.
• Completion of introductory organic chemistry laboratory and coursework.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Availability to work 40 hours per week.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
• A minimum G.P.A. of 3.2 is strongly preferred.
• Prior undergraduate research experience outside of standard curriculum is preferred.
• Familiarity with modern analytical techniques like NMR, MS, and HPLC is preferred.
• Familiarity with various reaction techniques and safe laboratory practices is preferred.

Location & details#

• This position is based on-site in La Jolla, California.