2025 Volunteer Scientific Research Intern

About Mission: Cure

Mission: Cure was co-founded by Megan Golden and her brother Eric Golden in 2017, after he was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, a disease characterized by excruciating pain with no existing treatments.  In our eight years, we have helped launch clinical trials and support the pancreatitis community through educational resources and content with actionable information. Mission: Cure aims to demonstrate a new model for curing disease that provides financial incentives for improving patient outcomes and brings in resources from investors who want to make a social impact.

Job Description

Position Summary

This internship is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in applying research and analytical skills and strategies to the world of public health, healthcare, and curing disease. Mission: Cure Scientific Research Intern(s) will learn from leaders in health innovation and innovative finance, researchers, and experts at the forefront of pancreatitis research, and contribute significantly to overall operations and strategy.

We are looking for hard workers and creative thinkers interested in curing disease, nonprofit management, improving healthcare, research, and innovative financing of social ventures. At the end of the internship, interns may also participate, at no cost of their own, in a major scientific conference where they would represent the organization and help push the boundaries of our scientific initiatives forward. We will follow up with interns on this during the program.

Key Responsibilities

The intern(s) will learn about and contribute to efforts to develop effective therapies for pancreatitis. Mission: Cure has a strategy that involves taking “multiple shots on goal,” from pursuing drugs approved for other diseases to innovative approaches such as gene therapy.

Specific projects may include:

- Preparing for meetings with leading researchers about potential therapies and relevant scientific developments

- Reviewing research literature to assess potential therapeutic approaches

- Performing research on potential partner companies for therapeutic development

- Supporting various translational and patient-related research projects

- Analyzing data from internal studies or public databases to learn about pancreatitis patients’ health and co-occurring conditions

Qualifications

- Current undergraduate or graduate student in the biological sciences or related field

- Background and passion for curing disease and supporting patients through scientific research to develop effective therapies

- Completed introductory biology and chemistry courses  

- Analytical ability and interest in using data to analyze and interpret different factors affecting pancreatitis  

- The type of person who identifies what needs to be done to achieve organizational goals and volunteers to do it; someone who generates ideas about ways to move forward and address challenges

- Ability to take initiative in moving projects forward until they are complete; when you need feedback or direction on how to proceed, you come to ask for it rather than waiting to be asked

- Strong writing and communication skills

- Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize, and work independently on a variety of projects

- Full-time access to a reliable internet connection

We especially welcome applicants from communities or backgrounds that have been subject to discrimination or are underrepresented in the healthcare system. We also welcome applicants with experience living with chronic, rare, or pancreatic diseases.  

Studies have shown that women and people of color may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the internship. We would encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed. Please note that this internship will not provide experience in scientific bench work.

Location: To be determined. If selected, our team will be in touch with you.

While this is a volunteer position, we will support applications for funding from your school or other programs.