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Novartis

A major pharmaceutical and healthcare company committed to discovering and developing innovative medicines to address global health challenges and improve patient lives.

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1 Popular internship programs at Novartis

As a global leader in pharmaceuticals and life sciences, Novartis offers interns a unique opportunity to work on groundbreaking research, innovative drug development, and advanced healthcare solutions. Interns gain hands-on experience in fields ranging from biomedical research and translational medicine to data science, marketing, and clinical operations. With access to top-tier mentorship, cutting-edge technology, and real-world projects, Novartis internships provide a strong foundation for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

1.1 Summer Science Internship

This 10-week research-intensive program is designed for undergraduate science students who want to experience real drug discovery work in an industry setting. Interns are paired with a Novartis scientist to conduct a focused project in areas like molecular biology, target validation, pharmacology, or chemical screening. Held at Novartis research hubs in Cambridge (MA) and San Diego (CA), the program offers structured lab experience, daily exposure to core research teams, and a culminating symposium where interns present their findings to senior scientists.

1.2 PRISM Program

Targeted at recent college graduates from underrepresented communities in science, PRISM is a two-year, fully paid research fellowship. Fellows work full-time on independent projects in Novartis labs while receiving coaching and support to apply for competitive PhD or MD/PhD programs. With access to scientific seminars, skill-building workshops, GRE prep, and graduate school application support, PRISM serves as a bridge between undergraduate education and top-tier biomedical graduate programs.

1.3 Novartis Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship

This highly selective 2–3 year program places postdoctoral researchers into Novartis’ innovation hubs, where they drive early-stage therapeutic projects with strong translational potential. Fellows design experiments, manage lab teams, and collaborate across disciplines such as genomics, protein engineering, or disease pathway modeling. Each fellow is mentored by a senior Novartis investigator and encouraged to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences, while retaining full IP rights to their work when transitioning to academia or biotech.

1.4 Novartis Discovery Postdoctoral Fellowship

Spanning 3–4 years, this fellowship is built for researchers committed to pioneering drug discovery science. Projects often involve multi-disciplinary collaboration across chemical biology, pharmacokinetics, and computational modeling. Fellows contribute directly to discovery pipelines, generate preclinical data, and participate in joint research programs with academic labs.

1.5 Translational Medicine Academy

This two-year, hands-on training program is for early-career professionals in clinical research, precision medicine, or biomarker development. Based in Basel (Switzerland) and Cambridge (USA), participants are embedded in translational medicine teams that bridge laboratory findings with clinical trial design.

1.6 Marketing Leadership Development Program

This rotational program is designed for MBA or graduate-level candidates who have completed a prior internship at Novartis. Over multiple rotations, participants work in core functions such as Market Access Strategy, Digital Marketing, Brand Planning, and Insights & Analytics. Each rotation involves leading or co-owning initiatives that directly influence how Novartis engages with healthcare providers, patients, and regulatory stakeholders across product lifecycles.

1.7 Sales Rotational Summer Internship Program

This 12-week field-focused internship is ideal for students interested in pharmaceutical sales and commercial strategy. Interns are partnered with Territory Account Specialists to shadow customer visits, understand compliance guidelines, and contribute to product education initiatives.

1.8 Sailing Medical Representative Intern Program

This specialized 3 to 12-month internship is designed for students in China who are studying medicine, pharmacy, chemistry, or related fields. Interns assist Medical Representatives in educating healthcare professionals about Novartis therapies, tracking market feedback, and supporting promotional campaigns. With a strong emphasis on academic detailing and regulatory compliance, the program provides interns with a clear understanding of how pharmaceutical products are positioned within dynamic and rapidly growing healthcare markets.

2 Popular roles for interns at Novartis

1. Research Intern: Research interns at Novartis work within core drug discovery teams. They often contribute to projects in target identification, molecular biology, or pharmacology. Under the mentorship of senior scientists, interns design and conduct lab experiments, analyze preclinical data, and contribute to real-time decision-making on pipeline advancement.

2. Data Science Intern: In this role, interns collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to build predictive models that inform drug candidate prioritization and compound optimization. They use large-scale biological datasets, such as omics or assay data, and apply statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization tools to extract actionable insights.

3. Marketing Intern: Marketing interns rotate across several business units, including Market Access, Strategic Insights, and Brand Management. They support product launches, assist with campaign planning, analyze market research, and contribute to omnichannel marketing strategies. Interns are exposed to the full marketing lifecycle. This includes segmentation, digital outreach, and stakeholder engagement, which are all critical for positioning life-saving therapies in global markets.

4. Sales Intern: Sales interns gain field-level exposure by shadowing Territory Account Specialists and participating in customer meetings. They learn how to articulate product value propositions, understand formulary access, and navigate compliance in promotional activities. Interns also work on strategic sales projects, such as mapping competitor activity or refining customer targeting strategies.

5. Medical Representative Intern: Interns in this role support the work of field-based Medical Representatives by participating in academic detailing and facilitating communication with healthcare professionals. They assist in educating physicians about approved therapies, gather feedback from healthcare providers, and contribute to the planning and execution of local promotional activities.

6. Postdoctoral Fellow: Postdoctoral fellows are embedded in long-term, high-impact research programs across areas such as oncology, neuroscience, and cell and gene therapy. These roles involve designing and leading independent projects, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and collaborating with both internal scientists and external academic partners. Fellows also contribute to cross-functional drug discovery teams that bridge lab discoveries with clinical and commercial goals.

7. Clinical Sciences Intern: Interns in this role participate in the operational aspects of clinical trials. They are involved in protocol development, site initiation, patient data analysis, and trial monitoring. They gain exposure to regulatory submission processes, endpoint planning, and biomarker integration.

8. Finance Intern: Finance interns rotate through functions such as financial planning and analysis, treasury, and business partnering. They analyze cost structures, support budgeting exercises, and contribute to investment planning for R&D and commercial programs.

Tailor your resume to match the specific internship role and include any hands-on lab work, research projects, or data tools you have used. Novartis values practical experience even at the early career stage.

1. Which internship is better for a biostatistics PhD student, Genentech or Novartis?

2. What do you need for a Novartis internship in the US?

3. Which Company in the Field of Biomedical Offers Internship Projects to Work On?

4. How Can Someone Break Into Medical Device Design Without Any Internship or Real-World Experience?

5. Which is the best company to intern with for pharmaceutical marketing?