About the Department

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients

 

The Program

At Novo Nordisk, interns will have the opportunity to work closely with experienced industry professionals and gain valuable, hands-on, full-time work experience. For ten working weeks, interns will be immersed in the environment of a global pharmaceutical company and contribute to the line of business by providing sustainable and meaningful project work. Our internship program also includes instructor led trainings, a leadership engagement series, and a guided mentorship program to offer professional and personal development.

 

Program Start: June 1st, 2026

Program End: August 14th, 2026

 

Scope of Position

The Molecular Biology intern will gain practical experience in biosensor design for assay development, plasmid cloning workflows, bacterial handling, DNA preparation, PCR, Sanger sequencing, and Gibson Assembly to support wet-lab projects. The intern will strengthen their hands-on molecular biology skills, contribute to Research & Development (R&D) projects, and gain valuable insight into laboratory research and early drug discovery processes. In this role, the intern can expect to gain hands-on experience designing biosensors and planning cloning strategies using plasmid DNA constructs. The intern will also have the opportunity to implement standard aseptic techniques, maintain a sterile workflow, and follow safe laboratory practices while working with bacterial cultures. The intern will perform bacterial transformations and plate or streak colonies for selection. The intern will pick single colonies to maintain clonal cultures and establish starter cultures, then scale up cultures for plasmid isolation (miniprep/maxiprep). The intern will learn to prepare plasmid DNA for Sanger sequencing, interpret sequencing results, and design and run PCR reactions to verify plasmid constructs. The intern will have the chance to assemble DNA fragments to create new plasmid constructs expressing biosensors for assay development. The intern will be part of a research group documenting and presenting their own work, gain exposure to cell biology and drug screening, molecular interactions, bioanalytical methods, peptide chemistry, and protein engineering and collaborate with scientists from varied backgrounds to broaden their skills.

 

Physical Requirements

0% overnight travel required.

 

Qualifications

Must be a current student enrolled at an accredited college or university pursuing at least a bachelor’s degree An in progress undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Cell Biology or a related discipline preferred Strong academic record with a preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher Conscientious self-starter with good organizational skills, project management skills and attention to detail Ability to balance multiple projects and priorities, must be able to multi-task Strong interpersonal communication and ability to collaborate with teams; must effectively operate independently, across functional lines, and with internal customers Demonstrated personal initiative, self-motivation, flexibility, adaptability and willingness to learn Proficient in Microsoft Office Tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

 

At this time, Novo Nordisk is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future would require sponsorship for employment visa status.

 

The base compensation range for this position is $52,000 to $89,000 on an hourly basis. Due to the temporary nature of this program, this position is not eligible to participate in any of the Company's benefit plans and will not be entitled to any paid time off unless otherwise required by applicable law.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

 

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and defeating diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.

 

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

 

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.