2026 Summer Intern - Translational Safety (Investigative Toxicology)

2026 Summer Intern - Translational Safety (Investigative Toxicology)

Department Summary

Development Sciences (DevSci) spans the entire drug discovery and development cycle — from early stage research to drug commercialization. Part of the drug development pipeline in DevSci includes the preclinical safety evaluation of candidate therapeutic molecules by toxicologists and pathologists in the Translational Safety (TS) department in order to enable further evaluation in humans. We are also committed to providing better outcomes for our people, patients, business, and communities by advancing and boldly championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work.

Translational Safety’s Vision and Mission:

We revolutionize and accelerate drug development through cutting-edge predictive, translational sciences. We develop transformative therapeutics for patients by delivering rigorous translational strategies and model-informed predictive insights for all therapeutic modalities through the entire drug development lifecycle via innovative experimental and computational approaches.

The summer intern will join Genentech's Investigative Toxicology group. The role requires proficiency in cell culture and molecular biology for assay development, mechanistic studies, and applying novel in vitro methodologies for Translational Safety. A primary focus is advancing predictive models for drug-induced lung disease (DILD).

This internship position is located in South San Francisco, on-site. 

The Opportunity: 

Join our dynamic research team as a summer intern and gain valuable hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful advancements in Translational Safety. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop and apply scientific skills in a cutting-edge research environment, working with state-of-the-art technologies that drive progress in drug safety and development. Ideal for candidates eager to embrace innovative methodologies and expand their expertise in a collaborative and stimulating setting.

As a key member of our team, you will play a vital role in establishing, qualifying, and implementing advanced technologies and platforms to support safety assessment efforts, including:

Key Responsibilities:

• Advancing 3D and microphysiological systems.

• Applying iPSC-derived cell models for diverse safety-focused studies.

• Utilizing live-cell and high-content imaging techniques (e.g., cell painting) to enhance predictive toxicity assessments.

• Implementing high-content imaging methodologies for predictive safety evaluations.

• Developing and optimizing cross-species in vitro models to bridge translational gaps and improve relevance to human biology.

Program Highlights 

• Intensive 12-weeks, full-time (40 hours per week) paid internship.

• Program start dates are in May/June 2026.

• A stipend, based on location, will be provided to help alleviate costs associated with the internship. 

• Ownership of challenging and impactful business-critical projects.

• Work with some of the most talented people in the biotechnology industry.

Who You Are (Required)

Required Education

You meet one of the following criteria:

• Must have attained a Bachelor's Degree (recent graduate).

• Must be pursuing a Master's Degree (enrolled student).

• Must have attained a Master's Degree (recent graduate). 

• Must be pursuing a PhD (enrolled student).

Required Majors: Life Sciences, Biology, Toxicology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Cellular or Molecular Biology, Genetics or a related field.

Required Skills and Qualifications: 

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented summer intern to join our team. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful research in a collaborative environment while gaining hands-on experience and professional development in drug discovery and safety assessment. The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and skills:

• Proven ability to independently design, troubleshoot, and conduct experiments, interpret data, and solve problems.

• Prior hands-on wet lab experience, including but not limited to technical skills such as calculating molarity and accurate pipetting.

• Experience in assay development/ optimization.

• Ability to professionally present research to lab groups and departments using effective presentation tools.

• Eagerness to learn about the end-to-end drug development process, including non-clinical (animal) studies.

• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and adaptability to a dynamic research environment.

• Demonstrated enthusiasm for building a meaningful career in drug discovery and safety sciences. 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications

These preferred qualifications will enhance the candidate’s ability to contribute significantly to our team’s goals and research projects. Candidates with the following preferred qualifications will be highly regarded for this summer intern position: 

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills with a proactive desire to support and work closely with colleagues.

• Complements our culture and the standards that guide our daily behavior & decisions: Integrity, Courage, and Passion.

• Experience with high-content imaging methodologies specifically for toxicology applications.

• Advanced proficiency in Python (or other coding languages) for data manipulation and development of analysis pipelines.

• Expert knowledge in lung biology and its application to relevant research.

• Authorship of manuscripts (published or preprints) showcasing rigorous scientific research.

• Evidence of professional communication skills through conference presentations, including oral talks and/or poster presentations.

Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting. 

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $33.00 - $46.00 hour. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This position also qualifies for paid holiday time off benefits.

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.