IMM Discovery Intern - La Jolla

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world.  We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual.  At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Career Programs

Job Sub Function:

Non-LDP Intern/Co-Op

Job Category:

Career Program

All Job Posting Locations:

San Diego, California, United States of America

Job Description:

Immunology Discovery – La Jolla Intern

In Innovative Medicine, patients inspire and inform our work, helping us translate scientific discovery into meaningful advances. You will collaborate with talented teams committed to developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in advancing treatments, pursuing cures, and bringing innovation from the laboratory to patients—while keeping their needs at the center of every step. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are seeking talented, curious, and collaborative individuals to help shape the future of Immunology.

Immunology Internship Program Overview:  

The Johnson & Johnson Immunology Internship Program offers a full-time, immersive learning experience within Immunology Therapeutic Area Research and Development. Interns contribute to meaningful projects, engage with leaders and colleagues across functions, and build practical skills through structured learning, mentorship, and exposure to the drug development process. The program is designed to foster professional growth while giving interns an opportunity to support innovative immunology research and clinical development.

Designed to cultivate the next generation of talent, the program helps interns develop scientific, technical, and professional capabilities while exploring career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. The internship spans approximately three months, from May 17 through August 6, 2027 or from June 14 through September 10th, 2027, based at the La Jolla, CA campus.

Job Description:

As an Immunology Discovery Scientist Intern, you will join a multidisciplinary research and development team working to advance novel therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases. With guidance from an assigned mentor, you will complete a defined project aligned with an active discovery program and gain hands-on experience in experimental or computational research, data analysis, scientific interpretation, and communication. Depending on the project, you may investigate disease biology, identify or validate therapeutic targets, explore mechanisms of action, or apply technology platforms such as ELISA, PCR, DNA sequencing, flow cytometry, cell culture, cell-based functional assays, or single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. You will receive training in study planning, experimental execution, analytical methods, and troubleshooting while collaborating with colleagues across scientific disciplines and global matrixed teams. At the end of the internship, you will present your findings to the project team and communicate your work through an abstract or poster at an organization-wide research symposium.

You will be responsible for:

• Experimental or computational analysis design and execution
• Participating in department and team meetings
• Participating in cross-functional team meetings
• Data collection and experimental record keeping
• Shadowing key functional roles for learning/development opportunities
• Assisting with interpretation, reporting, and preparation of oral and written results of product research, in concert with senior clinical personnel
• Review of literature and related new technologies
• Leadership opportunities on specific programs and or group projects
• Abstract/ poster preparation and presentation at organization-wide research symposium
• Other projects as assigned

Qualifications 

• Permanently authorized to work in the U.S., must not require sponsorship of an employment visa (e.g., H-1B or green card) at the time of application or in the future. Students currently on CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT usually requires future sponsorship for long term employment and do not meet the requirements for this program unless eligible for an alternative long-term status that does not require company sponsorship.
• Must be currently enrolled in an accredited University or College program throughout the duration of the internship. Must not be graduating before, during, or after the start or end of the internship program.
• Undergraduate students with a minimum of six semesters or the equivalent quarters at program start or graduate students are eligible
• Graduate students must be pursuing a master’s, PharmD, Physician Assistant or PhD or other clinical related degrees.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 which is reflective of all college coursework. 
• Students in good standing, working towards the completion of an undergraduate or graduate degrees Currently enrolled in biology, cell/molecular biology, chemistry, pre-med, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, clinical pharmacology, clinical or translational research, computational biology, precision medicine, or similar areas of study.
• Availability to work full time (40 h/w) for the entire co-op or internship. We work on a “hybrid model” if you are NOT lab based.  This means that you will be asked to report on site three times a week and can work remotely twice a week. 
• Proven leadership/participation with campus programs and/or service programs is desired.  
• Detailed oriented with good organizational skills.
• Possess strong leadership skills to participate and contribute to internship program initiatives and events. 
• Great interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills. 
• Ability to lead peers, project teams and present to project and senior leadership teams. 
• Enthusiastic, collaborative, able to build relationships and work within global matrixed and cross-functional teams.  
• Ability to work on and balance multiple project deliverables Working knowledge and/or experience using Slack, Microsoft suite of business applications/tools including but not limited to Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Sharepoint, Teams, and Word, etc.
• Fluent in written and spoken English

Permanently authorized to work in the U.S., must not require sponsorship of an employment visa (e.g., H-1B or green card) at the time of application or in the future.  Students currently on CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT usually requires future sponsorship for long term employment and do not meet the requirements for this program unless eligible for an alternative long-term status that does not require company sponsorship.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation,  external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers . Internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

#IMMInternships

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$23.50/hr to $52.50/hr

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

The expected pay range for this position is between $23.50 per hour and $52.50 per hour but will be based on candidate's program year, discipline, degree and/or experience. Co-Ops/Interns are eligible to participate in Company sponsored employee medical benefits in accordance with the terms of the plan. Co-Ops and Interns are eligible for the following sick time benefits: up to 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington, up to 56 hours per calendar year. Co-Ops and Interns are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension). For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits This job posting is anticipated to close on [9/10/2027]. The Company may however extend this time-period, in which case the posting will remain available on https://www.careers.jnj.com to accept additional applications.