Intern, AI/ML Drug Discovery

COMPANY:

At BioCryst, we share a deep commitment to improving the lives of people living with complement-mediated and other rare diseases. For over three decades we've been guided by our passion for not settling for "ordinary" in our quest to develop novel medicines. We leverage our expertise in structure-guided drug design to develop first-in-class or best-in-class oral small-molecule and protein therapeutics, led by the efforts of our team of expert scientists in our Discovery Center of Excellence in Birmingham, Alabama. Our global headquarters is in Durham, North Carolina and our employees span the globe across sites in multiple countries. We are proud of our culture of engagement and accountability that rewards people for innovative thinking and achievement of key objectives. For more information, please visit our website at www.biocryst.com or follow uson LinkedIn and Instagram.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The BioCryst Internship Program is more than just an internship, it's a launchpad for your future career. We believe the best learning happens through hands-on experience, meaningful connections, and ownership of your summer projects. During your 12-week internship, you'll dive into biotech projects firsthand and see the impact your work has on patient lives.

Program Highlights

• Hands-On Work: Participate in projects that have real impact on the team and company.
• Hybrid Flexibility: Balance remote work with at least three days per week in our Birmingham, AL office, at the Discovery of Excellence campus, providing access to resources, mentorship, and the full internship experience. Note: this is not a fully remote internship.
• Onboarding & Orientation: Kick off the summer with an in-person orientation at our headquarters to meet fellow interns and leaders.
• Professional Growth: Attend workshops, networking sessions, and join the Career Connections Program to sharpen your skills and explore career paths.
• Community & Culture: Join social events, team-building activities, and volunteer opportunities to build relationships and give back.
• Intern Showcase: Share your work and impact at our in-person Summer Intern Showcase.
• Access to Leaders: Gain insights directly from company leaders and innovators shaping the future of biotech.

JOB SUMMARY

This is an exciting opportunity to obtain hands-on Drug Discovery experience in a fast-growing biotech company. Interns will support the team with meaningful projects, learning opportunities, and professional development experiences.

The ideal candidate will be ready to roll up their sleeves and bring their passion for Drug Discovery into a fast-paced, innovative learning environment. This individual should bring energy every day and be eager to work collaboratively as we make hope a reality for patients with rare and orphan diseases. This is a unique position allows for application of academic experience primarily in drug design. BioCryst's Discovery Group in Birmingham is seeking a self-motivated intern with a background in fields like computer sciences, computational biology, structural biology, physics, or related areas to support using machine learning and AI tools in the context of drug design. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are needed along with a strong research interest in drug design.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop algorithms/models focused on machine learning and AI tools for drug discovery - antibody lead candidate optimization.
• Design and evaluate machine learning models to predict antibody-antigen binding.
• Assess emerging AI/ML drug discovery methods/tools in the public domain and provide recommendations on paths to replicating the promising methods/trends in BioCryst.
• Assist antibody engineering using existing biological data based on the antibody-antigen computational model.
• Stay up to date with the latest computational models and AI techniques in Drug Discovery and report.
• Other projects, as assigned.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Working towards a PhD in biomedical engineering, computer science, data science, computational biology, or related discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Experience in dealing with large data sets, strong interest in application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, with a strong research interest in drug design.
• Experience in structural prediction, molecular modelling, and antibody-antigen interaction analysis
• Knowledge of AI/ML applications in structural biology, antibody discovery and protein design.
• Coursework, practicum work in computational biology, , computer science, pharmacology, deep learning, biochemistry, protein science and structural biology,
• Proficient in Python, Arduino (C++), Java, SQL, R, MATLAB, Microsoft office suite.
• Team player who is willing to flex outside the prescribed role
• Exceptional written and verbal communicator, strong interpersonal skills.
• Self-directed, creative, and ability to be flexible and adjust quickly as priorities change.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

• Duration: 12 weeks, full-time
• Program Dates: May 18, 2026 - August 7, 2026 *start and end dates are not flexible
• Expected weekly hours: 32-35

• Location: Hybrid, with at least three days per week in at the Birmingham, AL Discovery of Excellence campus. This internship is not fully remote, and housing is not provided.
• Compensation: Paid internship; wages are competitive and based on experience and academic level

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Resume
• References (3)

The statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The manager may assign additional responsibilities and assignments from time to time.

BioCryst is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, Veterans status, disability and/or other protected class characteristics. Additionally, BioCryst is committed to achieving its business objectives in compliance with all federal, state and local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.