BioFutures Program: Information for Students

What is the BioFutures Program?

The BioFutures Program is a competitive career program to connect college students from under-represented backgrounds with subsidized internships and career development programming, designed to increase opportunities for students in the LA region.

What are the program’s objectives?

The objectives of the BioFutures Program are to:

  • Provide the life sciences community with a diverse pool to source talent from

  • Enable more students to explore career opportunities in a challenging economic environment

  • Enable more life science companies to mentor students and provide internship opportunities across a broader spectrum

  • Increase awareness and meet a need identified by multiple stakeholders

  • Recognize and support the need for greater diversity in our life sciences workforce

  • Provide a peer network of students interested in working in the life sciences

How does the program work?

Undergraduate college students who are looking for an internship in the life sciences will need to first submit an online application, including a resume and some short-answer questions, on the BioscienceLA website.

Representatives from local companies looking to host interns will review applications, interview candidates directly, and select interns with the qualifications and interests that are most suited to their needs. Internships are typically full-time in the Summer (June-August) and part-time the rest of the year – Fall (September – November), Winter (January-March), and Spring (April-June) – although other time commitments are possible.

Companies contract directly with the interns and pay them for the internships (roughly $8,000 for Summer Internships and $4,000 for Fall, Winter, and Spring Internships), with BioscienceLA reimbursing eligible companies through partial subsidies.

What are the eligibility requirements for prospective interns?

Undergraduate college students in the Los Angeles area will be able to apply for the BioFutures Program by submitting an application, including resume, on the BioscienceLA website.

Priority will be given to:

  • Community college students in Los Angeles (living in LA and attending an LA college) who are interested in the life sciences field (or a related field)

  • Students from under-represented backgrounds*

  • Students who have not previously held an internship in the life sciences field

  • Students committed to remaining and working in the LA area at the end of their internship or college


    Interns cannot be the spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, or spouse of a child, grandchild, sibling, niece, or nephew of ANY employee of the hiring company.

* Priority will be given to applicants who belong to one or more of the following groups:

  • Individuals from a diverse racial and ethnic group that is underrepresented in life sciences in the United States (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives and natives of the US Pacific Islands)

  • Individuals who will be the first in their family to go to college

  • Individuals who need a paid internship to help offset the cost of their education or for living expenses

I don’t have any experience in the life sciences industry. Can I still apply?

Yes! Companies will be looking for students who have a mix of academic experience, career curiosity, and a strong work ethic to fill their open positions. While some roles (e.g., lab technicians) may require prior education, training, or experience, other roles (e.g., project manager) may be much more flexible with regard to background.

How do prospective interns apply? Is there a deadline?

BioscienceLA will accept applications only through its website, with submissions including a resume and responses to short narrative questions. Once submitted, applications are made available to companies reviewing candidates and will remain in our database. Applications are on a rolling basis, so we suggest submitting your application as soon as you’re able to.

What short narrative questions will I be asked in the application?

The application will ask you the following four questions:

  • Describe your ideal internship experience. What do you hope to be doing? What do you want to learn? What do you want to get out of this experience? Please be specific.

  • Describe your career ambitions. How does the BioFutures program fit into achieving these goals? Please be specific.

  • Briefly share what makes you unique and what you hope to bring to the BioFutures program.

  • Please share with us what your favorite activity/hobby/fact about Los Angeles/SoCal is.

Take some time to reflect on these questions before you apply. You may even want to discuss your responses with your professor(s), advisor(s), or peers who have industry experience prior to applying.

What kinds of companies might be hiring for this program?

Companies will vary from early-stage to more established organizations in these industries: biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical diagnostics, bioinformatics, healthcare IT, medtech, digital health, and more.

Will prospective interns know which companies are reviewing their applications?

The names of participating companies may not be posted. The program is designed so that companies review applications and contact students directly if they are interested in arranging an interview.

How many interns will be selected?

BioFutures was announced in late 2020 and launched in 2021. BioscienceLA anticipates placing hundreds of student interns over the coming years, pending funding commitments from our sponsors and partners. For Summer 2021, we will endeavor to support as many company-student internship matches as possible.

What paperwork is required once an intern is selected?

Interns will have to satisfy all paperwork requirements as requested by the employer company (which can vary). Interns will be required to sign an agreement with BioscienceLA acknowledging the requirements of the BioFutures program.

What does BioscienceLA expect of an intern during their internship?

BioscienceLA expects that interns maintain a professional demeanor throughout their internship and comply with all host company policies. It is also expected that interns complete all weeks of their internship as initially agreed upon with their host company. If an intern cannot fulfill his or her commitment to the internship, providing sufficient advanced notice to their supervisor is required. Companies reserve the right to terminate the internship at any time and for any reason.

In addition, BioscienceLA expects interns to:

  • Plan to remain in Los Angeles following internship

  • Attend at all Summer Internship Experience events and BioFutures-only events, including: networking events, social activities, and information sessions

  • Actively participate and engage with mentors (cadence will be set by intern/mentor, but BioscienceLA expects regular meetings/communication)

  • Submit weekly written, photo, and video updates that BioscienceLA can use for marketing purposes (weekly updates will provide context such as: what the intern learned that week, who they met, and what new interests the intern has in the life science field), including opportunities for interns to participate in BioscienceLA social media takeovers throughout the summer to highlight and showcase their unique experience

  • Prepare a final presentation to BioscienceLA community at the conclusion of their internship to summarize their summer experience

  • As available, provide guidance to future classes of BioFutures interns

What is the intern stipend and how will interns be paid?

Interns are hired and paid directly by their host company, typically twice per month, but some companies may pay every two weeks or once per month. Internship schedules and rates may vary, but BioscienceLA requires participating companies to pay their interns at least $18 per hour (roughly $8,000 for Summer Internships and $4,000 for Fall, Winter, and Spring Internships).

I’m currently a BioFutures intern and want to extend my internship. Is there a limit on extending my internship?

To help ensure the BioFutures program subsidy can support as many students as possible, each intern is limited to a total of 600 hours in the BioFutures program.

What is the difference between the Summer Internship Experience and the BioFutures program?

The Summer Internship Experience is also set to launch in Summer 2021 in a virtual format and is for students that already have an internship set up at a life sciences company who are looking to expand their network in the industry. There is no application for the Summer Internship Experience; it will be via sign-up. All students accepted into the BioFutures Program, will automatically be signed up for the Summer Internship Experience for further networking/social opportunities.

With work-from-home programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, how are internships impacted?

Many companies successfully hosted interns virtually during Summer 2020 and are planning to do so again in 2021. Many students have grown accustomed to remote collaboration and coursework over the last year. BioscienceLA is working with its industry contacts to support remote/virtual internships for 2021. While some roles (e.g., lab tech) may be possible only in person, many other roles are feasible remotely.

We look forward to schools and companies welcoming students back in person later in 2021 and certainly in 2022.