Research Associate Intern

Biohub is leading the new era of AI-powered biology to cure or prevent disease through its 501c3 medical research organization, with the support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

The Team

The Biohub in Chicago is an independent nonprofit research institute that brings together three powerhouse universities - Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - into a single collaborative technology and discovery engine. Biohub itself supports some of the brightest, boldest engineers, data scientists, and biomedical researchers to make breakthroughs in medicine and develop new technologies, frequently in collaboration with our partner universities. We are guided by our values of scholarly excellence; disruptive innovation; hands-on engineering/hacking/building; partnership and collaboration; open communication and respect; inclusiveness; and opportunity for all.

Our Vision

• We pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments


• We enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas


• The technologies developed at Biohub facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond

Diversity of thought, ideas, and perspectives are at the heart of Biohub and enable disruptive innovation and scholarly excellence. We are committed to cultivating an organization where all colleagues feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution.

The Opportunity

The Biohub in Chicago is seeking talented undergraduate-level students to join the organization for its 10-week Summer Internship Program, running from June 15, 2026, to August 21, 2026.

The successful candidates will spend the summer immersed in real-world science with our biomedical researchers, research scientists, data scientists, and engineers. They will not only gain technical experience working top-line goals, but also soft skills such as communication and critical thinking, as well as the opportunity to network with scientists who provide valuable advice and mentorship.
Interns will be matched to one primary project based on their interests, background, and team needs.

Possible responsibilities/projects include:

Spatiotemporal Omics – Materials Fabrication (Microneedle Arrays)
Focus: Biomaterials, microfabrication, soft lithography
Intern will support hydrogel microneedle array fabrication through polymer synthesis, PDMS mold production, and iterative soft-lithography workflows. This work enables downstream spatially resolved mass spectrometry and biological sampling. This is a laboratory-based fabrication role focused on experimental execution rather than engineering design.

Spatiotemporal Omics – Tissue Explant Injury Models
Focus: Tissue culture, injury modeling, experimental biology
Intern will  help build and maintain tissue-level explant burn injury models, executing controlled injury protocols and assessing post-injury structural, histological, and molecular responses.

Mass Spectrometry Omics - Proteomics & Metabolomics
Focus: LC-MS workflows, molecular data generation
Intern will support proteomics, metabolomics, and imaging MS pipelines, including sample preparation, instrument operation, QC, and contribution to focused analytical projects that serve multiple Biohub initiatives.

Tissue Models & Experimental Biology
Focus: Cell culture, in vitro models, wet-lab experimentation
Intern will assist with developing and testing in vitro tissue or disease models, performing routine wet-lab experiments, maintaining lab records, and supporting active biological research projects.

Functional Immunogenomics (CRISPR Validation)
Focus: Functional genomics, cell-based assays
Intern will  support CRISPR-based validation studies in disease-relevant model systems, contributing to follow-up assays, phenotypic characterization, and reproducible data generation.

Biointegrated Sensors & Biosensing Platforms
Focus: Biosensors, bioelectronics, translational engineering
Intern will assist with functionalization, testing, and integration of electrochemical biosensors for real-time biomarker monitoring, contributing to benchtop validation and prototype development.

What You'll Do

• Receive support through a 10-week research experience


• Receive mentorship to support your personal and professional development


• Gain and enhance your technical and transferable skills through trainings and seminars


• Learn how to design, plan, and carry out laboratory and/or computational scientific experiments


• Present at the end-of-program symposium


• Build relationships with peers and colleagues

What You'll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• Pursuing a BS in biology, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, materials science, physics, or a related field


• Prior laboratory or research experience through coursework, academic projects, or internships


• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow and document experimental protocols


• Comfort working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment


• Clear written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications (vary by project)

• Experience with tissue culture, biomaterials, microfabrication, or wet-lab workflows


• Familiarity with mass spectrometry, molecular biology, or analytical techniques


• Interest in translational research, platform development, or experimental systems


• Experience working with data analysis or scripting tools (e.g., Python, R)

Program Eligibility

• Must be a current undergraduate student (enrolled full time at a college or university both Spring 2026 AND Fall 2026 terms)


• Must be able to commit to the 10-week Summer Internship Program June 15, 2026, to August 21, 2026


• Must be able to be on-site at the Biohub in Chicago for the duration of the program

Compensation

The Chicago, IL pay for a new hire in this role is $26.28/hour. 

What We Provide 

• Hands-on, one-of-a-kind research experience


• Hourly compensation


• Invaluable professional relationships and mentorship


• Trainings and seminars


• Transportation reimbursement of up to $150 per month

Housing & Work Location

Interns are responsible for securing and paying for their own housing for the duration of the internship. This internship is fully on-site, and interns are expected to be present on-site for the full program duration. The organization does not provide housing or housing stipends as part of the internship program.

What to Expect: Application & Program Timeline

We aim to make our internship hiring process transparent and predictable. Below is the anticipated timeline for the Summer 2026 Program:

• January 16, 2026 – Applications open


• February 1, 2026 – Application deadline
  
  
  
  • All application materials must be submitted by this date for full consideration.
  
  
  
  


• Late January – February 2026 – Application review & interviews
  
  
  
  • Applications will be reviewed by the recruiting and research teams. Selected candidates will be invited to interviews during this period.
  
  
  
  


• March 2026 – Offers extended and finalized
  
  
  
  • Internship offers will be extended on a rolling basis, with all offers expected to be accepted by early March.
  
  
  
  


• June 15 – August 21, 2026 – Summer Internship Program
  
  
  
  • Interns join Biohub for a 10-week, immersive research experience, concluding with an end-of-program symposium.
  
  
  
  

Dates are subject to minor adjustments; candidates will be kept informed throughout the process.

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