2026 Summer Intern | New Product Strategy (Neurology)

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs.  With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees. 

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive. 

We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

 

New Product Strategy (Neurology)

Summary

Support the hiring manager and cross-functional stakeholders in a strategic deep dive on the 10-year outlook for alpha synucleinopathies (e.g., Parkinson’s disease [PD], Parkinson’s disease dementia [PDD], Dementia with Lewy Bodies [DLB], Multiple System Atrophy [MSA]). This internship will partner closely with internal teams and a consulting vendor to synthesize the evolving disease area, future market and competitive landscape, and the key drivers shaping diagnostics, biomarkers, and emerging disease-modifying modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, antisense oligonucleotides, gene therapies, immunotherapies).

This position will work across multiple indications and stakeholders and will support a consolidated view of epidemiology, care pathways, competitive dynamics, access/pricing trends, and innovation risk/benefit to inform clear where-to-play/how-to-win options.

Showcase your work with a final presentation (PPT) near the conclusion of your internship.

What You’ll Do

• Support a 10-year strategic deep dive across MSA, PD, PDD, and DLB to map market size, segments, access dynamics, and the evolving competitive landscape
• Conduct structured literature and secondary data synthesis to consolidate the current and future state of the disease area (diagnostics, biomarkers, care pathways, treatment paradigms)
• Perform pipeline and clinical benchmarking, including key catalysts, readouts, and inflection points across modalities
• Contribute to building and/or refining market models with segmentation, sensitivities, and assumptions to estimate future scenarios and unmet need
• Support market research team, including guide/questionnaire development and insight generation review (e.g., HCP perspectives) in collaboration with internal stakeholders and vendor partners
• Work with cross-functional team and consultant to develop 2–3 scenario plans to pressure-test strategic options
• Synthesize findings into a reusable strategy package: disease/market maps, quantified unmet needs, prioritized recommendations.

Expected Outcomes / Deliverables

• Disease & market maps for PD/PDD/DLB/MSA with key inflection points and catalysts over a 10-year horizon
• A current competitive landscape and catalyst view, with implications for strategy and portfolio choices
• Prioritized recommendations: where-to-play/how-to-win
• An executive readout deck (PPT) presented at the end of the internship

What You’ll Gain

• Deep domain fluency in alpha synucleinopathies and emerging disease-modifying approaches
• A practical strategy toolkit (sizing, segmentation, benchmarking, scenario modeling)
• Experience translating complex inputs into executive-ready storytelling
• High-visibility exposure through collaboration with cross-functional leaders and external partners

Required Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.8
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future, or eligible through CPT/OPT via your university
• Must be currently enrolled as a full-time student in a Master’s/MBA/PhD/PharmD (or similar graduate/doctoral program) at an accredited US-based university or college
• Must be a Graduate or Doctoral Student
• Must be enrolled full-time in the Fall semester at an accredited university/college after the completion of the internship
• Must be able to complete a 10–12 consecutive week internship between June and September

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred degree qualification: Graduate/MBA/PhD/PharmD (or related)
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Excel and PowerPoint in particular)
• Familiarity with life sciences/biopharma strategy, market research, or healthcare analytics (coursework or experience)
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills (market sizing, segmentation, scenario thinking)
• Ability to identify issues, seek solutions, and operate effectively in ambiguity
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external partners
• Clear written and verbal communication skills; comfort synthesizing into executive-ready storylines
• Efficient, organized, and able to handle short timelines in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity in the workplace

Program Highlights:

• The program is designed to complement a student’s undergraduate and/or graduate studies with relevant, hands-on industry experience
• Ionis offers paid positions
• Weekly stipend (for onsite interns only)
• Professional Networking
• End-of-program project presentations
• Housing/Travel assistance available for eligible, out-of-area interns
• Networking and bonding social events
• Interaction with diverse and motivated teams/departments

Requirements: 

• MUST be currently enrolled in a U.S. Undergraduate and/or Graduate Degree Program and not graduating prior to the completion of the Ionis internship.
• MUST be able to begin internship between 6/8 and 8/14/2026.
• MUST be able and willing to remain in program through at least 8/14/2026.
• MUST be able and willing to commit to a minimum 40-hour work week.

 

Please visit our website, http://www.ionis.com for more information about Ionis and to apply for this position

The pay scale for this position is $18 to $23 per hour.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS April 30, 2026. PLEASE INCLUDE A COVER LETTER RELEVANT TO THE POSITION APPLYING FOR. THE EVALUATION PROCESS MAY COMMENCE PRIOR TO THIS DEADLINE. 

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and all its subsidiaries are proud to be EEO employers.