Industrial Internship Program Creates Win-Win Partnerships for Students and Employers
Since its launch in 2012, NCBiotech’s Industrial Internship Program (IIP) has bridged the gap between college life and full-time careers in the life sciences. To date, the program has awarded $1 million and created over 250 internship opportunities across more than 100 companies and organizations throughout North Carolina's growing life sciences sector.
“This program provides students with valuable work experience in hopes that they will stay in North Carolina and be part of our growing life sciences talent pool,” said Mike Carnes, vice president of emerging company development at NCBiotech.
The IIP creates win-win partnerships by providing students pursuing careers in life sciences with real-world experience at companies seeking talented, motivated individuals to advance important projects.
Some IIP internships are designed for undergraduate business or science majors, while others are geared toward MBA students, Ph.D. students, or postdoctoral fellows.
Isosceles Pharmaceuticals Celebrates Successes with IIP
Over four years of participation in the IIP, Wilmington-based Isosceles Pharmaceuticals has landed highly motivated interns who have made meaningful contributions to the company’s scientific, preclinical, and clinical programs. Isosceles Pharmaceuticals is developing a platform for therapies to treat acute pain.
Isosceles Pharmaceuticals' recent experience with IIP intern Nathaniel Hernandez illustrates the program's transformative potential for both interns and employers.
From Intern to Industry Professional
When Nathaniel Hernandez joined Isosceles in summer 2024 as an IIP intern, he stepped into a role with substantial responsibility. As a Pipeline Development Consultant, he worked directly with the company's Chief Medical Officer on a research and development project. His projects involved a small molecule being studied for multiple disease indications. All work was preclinical, meaning it was conducted before the drug began clinical trials in humans.
His role was a mix of data analysis, clinical study design and budgeting for future clinical studies. Regarding business development, he examined the potential market value of pursuing different disease indications.
Nathaniel’s performance exceeded expectations, earning him an opportunity to continue working part-time with Isosceles Pharmaceuticals while completing his Ph.D. in pharmacology at Duke University.
Nathaniel demonstrated exemplary independence and accountability. His strong scientific judgment and ability to translate complex data into actionable insights quickly earned the trust of Isosceles’ senior leadership.
“Joining the Isosceles team was the best part of my graduate training,” said Nathaniel. “After years of taking courses on the pharmaceutical industry and drug development process, it was the first time in my career that I was able to put that knowledge into practice.”
The experience Nathaniel gained as an intern helped him land his current role with Teva Pharmaceuticals, where he works remotely from North Carolina. Hands-on exposure to real-world drug development and clinical-stage decision-making prepared him for success in his full-time role.
Benefits for Companies
Through the IIP, companies engage rising talent to advance meaningful projects and build a pipeline of future leaders.
Companies gain access to motivated individuals who can contribute immediately to impactful work. They can evaluate potential future hires and benefit from the intern’s fresh perspectives.
In addition to supplying grants of up to $4,000, NCBiotech supports participating companies by collecting and delivering quality applications, a service that simplifies the hiring process for companies.
“We would not have crossed paths with Nathaniel without the NCBiotech Industrial Internship Program,” said Brett Lanier, president of Isosceles Pharmaceuticals. “The IIP gave us direct access to exceptionally strong Ph.D. talent and made it easy for a small, clinical-stage company, like Isosceles, to engage a candidate who had a meaningful impact on our development program.”
Benefits for Students
For students, the IIP offers real-world experience that carries meaningful responsibilities and impact. Rather than observational learning or simple tasks, IIP internships provide opportunities to work on projects that contribute to the company's success.
Students participating in the program are encouraged to treat the internship as a true industry role.
“Be proactive, seek ownership, and focus on delivering measurable value,” said Brett. “The experience can be transformative and opens doors to full-time careers.”
Through the internships, students gain practical skills that complement their coursework, build professional networks, and deepen their understanding of how their education translates to industry applications.
Finding IIP Opportunities
IIP opportunities are currently posted on the NCBiotech Career Center. All students residing in North Carolina are encouraged to apply. For more information about the Industrial Internship Program, including how to participate, click here.