LSM Summer Internship Program

Thank you for your interest in the LSM summer internship program!  For LSM students, the program entails completing two internships—one science, one business—in the summers after their sophomore and junior years.  These internships not only allow students to put their combined bioscience and business education into practice, but also give them important avenues for exploring possible career paths.

Beyond being valuable for students, however, the LSM summer internship program offers significant benefits to employers, including:

  • Access to intellectually sophisticated, enthusiastic student workers who have received formal training in both the basic sciences and the principles of management;
  • The opportunity to tap into a pool of highly talented professionals-in-the-making before they actually hit the full-time job market;
  • A means of increasing your organization's visibility among Penn's student population.

What types of employers would be most appropriate for sponsoring an LSM internship?

Given the program’s dual focus on bioscience and business, there are many types of employers that might have an interest in LSM, including: biotech firms, pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies, public health agencies, non-government organizations, public policy and environmental groups, and investment banking, consulting, and venture capital firms concerned with health care or the life sciences.

What does sponsoring an LSM internship entail?

In offering an internship, an employer agrees to host an intern for 8-10 weeks of full-time employment during the summer.  It is expected that interns will engage in substantive work projects and be able to participate in regular staff meetings and events at the workplace.  Interns also must have a direct supervisor to help train and mentor them, and to provide necessary guidance and feedback throughout the course of the internship.

Can an employer choose to offer both science and business internships?

Yes. In fact, LSM encourages employers to offer both types of internships. In that way, students can have the unique experience of seeing how an organization functions from two different perspectives. In this way, employers have the prospect of having the same student intern for two consecutive summers.

How will interns be paid? Can interns receive course credit in lieu of payment?

All internships will be partially subsidized by Penn, in that students will receive a stipend from the LSM program.  Employers, however, are encouraged to provide additional support.  The University of Pennsylvania does not allow students to receive course credit for summer internships.

Will students be “placed” into internships or matched with employers by the LSM program?

No. Employers that sponsor internships retain the ability to review candidates and make their own hiring decisions.  Interested students apply for internships by submitting resumes and any other supporting documentation.  However, if employers wish to interview candidates, they are encouraged to conduct the interviews either on Penn’s campus or over the phone, so that students do not incur significant travel expenses.

What is the process for creating an internship position?

Employers interested in learning more about the LSM summer internship program, or in discussing an internship opportunity for students, should contact Andy Coopersmith, the LSM Director of Administration & Advising, either by e-mail or by calling 215-898-2739.