Cancer Immunology Summer Internship Program

Job Description

About Company: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is a pharmaceutical company with a core vision of “Transforming patients’ lives through science.” The company is deeply involved in innovative work, from optimizing production lines to leading breakthroughs in cell therapy and developing the next wave of cancer immunology drugs.

Working Environment and Culture:
BMS offers a work environment that is described as challenging, meaningful, and life-changing, where uniquely interesting work happens daily. Employees are provided with opportunities for growth and to thrive on a scale and scope uncommon in the industry, working alongside high-achieving teams. The company fosters a supportive culture where every employee is empowered to apply their individual talents and unique perspectives. BMS values passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion, and integrity, which guide colleagues to reach their highest potential.

Work-Life Balance and Benefits:
Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility for its employees. It offers a wide variety of competitive benefits, services, and programs designed to support employees’ goals both professionally and personally. These benefits, which may vary based on job and location (and for interns, are determined by the employer of record), generally include:
• Health and Wellbeing: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care; wellbeing support programs (like BMS Living Life Better and EAP).
• Financial Well-being: 401(K) plans and financial protection benefits such as short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and supplemental health insurance.
• Work-Life Programs: Paid national and optional holidays, Global Shutdown Days between Christmas and New Year’s, up to 120 hours of paid vacation, up to two paid volunteer days, sick time off, and summer hours flexibility.
• Leave Policies: Parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military leave.
• Family Support: Family care services including adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, fertility/infertility benefits, support for traveling mothers, and child, elder, and pet care resources.
• Development & Recognition: Tuition reimbursement and a recognition program.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
BMS is an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations, and ongoing support. The company considers for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws. It promotes global participation in clinical trials and values a diverse workforce.

On-site Protocol:
BMS operates with an occupancy structure, and for roles classified as “Site-essential,” like this internship, 100% of shifts are required to be conducted onsite at the assigned facility. This on-site presence is considered critical for collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive company culture.

Health Recommendations:
The company strongly recommends that all employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and keep up to date with boosters to ensure the well-being of staff, customers, patients, and communities.

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Job Description: Cancer Immunology Summer Internship Program (Summer 2026)

This is a 10-week, full-time paid summer research program offered by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) in its Cancer Immunology group of the Oncology Thematic Research Center (Oncology TRC) in Seattle, Washington. The program is specifically designed to support local STEM initiatives and expose individuals from all backgrounds to careers in scientific disciplines.

Position Summary:
The internship is focused on leveraging biological, translational, and clinical datasets to contribute to the development of T cell engager and cancer immunology drugs. Interns will have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to drug discovery programs within BMS’s pipeline.

Program Details:
• Duration: Full-time, 10 weeks, taking place from June to August 2026.
• Location: Seattle, Washington. This is a Site-essential role requiring 100% on-site presence.
• Mentorship: Interns will work directly with a discovery program lead and a technical advisor to complete a defined project.
• Learning Experience: Students will benefit from state-of-the-art laboratories and gain critical knowledge of core techniques used for biological assays, including target identification/validation, molecule screening, and functional analysis of drug candidates in early and late-stage discovery.
• Exposure: Interns may also participate in departmental and project team meetings to gain insights into the drug discovery and development process and interact with scientific and pharmaceutical leaders.
• Conclusion: The internship will conclude with a formal poster session or presentation where students will present their findings to the site.

Key Responsibilities:
• Gain background knowledge of the assigned project by reading scientific literature.
• Collaborate with program scientists to understand experimental design and execution.
• Learn and perform required laboratory techniques for project completion.
• Meet regularly with scientific advisors to review progress.
• Maintain meticulous documentation of experiments in an electronic lab notebook.
• Analyze experimental data and present project findings at the program’s conclusion.

Qualifications & Experience:
• Enrollment: Candidates must be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program majoring in Biology (e.g., Immunology, Cell Biology), Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Academic Progress: Must have completed at least two years of study towards a bachelor’s degree by June 2026. The expected graduation date must be later than August 2026.
• Laboratory Skills: Candidates should possess basic laboratory skills, acquired through lab courses, academic research, or industry experience.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
• Work Authorization: All candidates must be authorized to work in the US both at the time of hire and for the entire duration of their employment. Immigration or visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Compensation & Benefits:
• Hourly Compensation: The starting hourly compensation for this temporary assignment is within the range of $25.00 to $29.00/hr.
• Employer of Record: It is important to note that the final individual compensation and any applicable benefits will be determined by the intern’s employer of record, and not directly by BMS. Factors influencing this decision may include demonstrated experience, required skills, and the geographic location of the job. Compensation details are subject to change.
• Temporary Position: This is a temporary, time-bound position intended only for the duration of the internship program. Employment in this role does not imply or guarantee ongoing or permanent employment with BMS.

Bristol Myers Squibb encourages interested candidates to apply even if their resume doesn’t perfectly align with every requirement, emphasizing the potential for transformative work and career growth.