2026 Internship - Biological Sciences Intern

Are you interested in finding new ways to use biology to tackle today's National Security and National Health challenges?

Are you passionate about using your knowledge of molecular biology to enable new capabilities?

Do you thrive in a diverse, fast-paced and highly-collaborative scientific environment?

We are seeking an intern who is passionate about biology to join our Biological Sciences group to contribute to our mission of using biology to address challenges that are impossible to solve with other domains of sciences.

If you are pursuing a BS or MS in Biology or a related discipline and want to work in an exciting and collaborative environment to solve ambitious problems, we'd love to have you join our group.

As a member of our group you will...

• Work with biologists on projects related to biochemistry and molecular biology, biomaterials, systems and signals engineering, virology and microbiology, plant biology, marine biology, and computational biology
• Collaborate with biologists and biochemists on driving innovation in the biological sciences to enable new capabilities addressing critical challenges
• Network and learn from experienced individuals with diverse backgrounds.
• Participate in a lively and collaborative group culture that encourages big ideas.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Are pursuing a BS or MS in Biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Bioinformatics, Marine Biology, or other related fields.
• Have strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to lead and contribute to teams from any position.
• Have a demonstrated ability to execute experimentation and data analysis independently.
• Are able to obtain an interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have experience in...

• Bacterial/mammalian cell culture
• Nucleic acid isolation and manipulation (e.g. PCR)
• Protein purification
• DNA sequencing library prep
• Plant growth, maintenance, and experimental methods
• Next-generation sequencing data analysis
• Python, R, or Perl programming languages
• Relational databases (e.g. SQL)
• Production of interactive data visualizations (e.g. D3)
• Fish and crustacean husbandry
• Water quality analysis, tracking, and adjusting

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.