Sample Management Intern

Job Title: Sample Management Intern 

Location: South San Francisco, CA (local candidates only)

Reports to: VP of Operations and Sample Management Associate 

Regular/Temporary: Temporary (Summer Internship)

Full/Part-Time (if part-time, number of hours each week): Monday-Friday

Internship Duration (10-12 weeks): Start Date (May/June) – End Date (August/September)

About SonoThera: 

SonoThera is a venture capital-backed early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing ultra-sound-guided non-viral targeted gene therapies to treat multiple diseases of high unmet need.  SonoThera uses a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and forward-thinking approach to solving many of the current challenges facing genetic medicine discovery and drug development. SonoThera is headquartered in South San Francisco, CA. 

Program Overview

The Summer Internship Program provides hands-on experience designed to complement academic learning. Over the course of the program, interns will gain exposure to real-world projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and receive structured mentorship and feedback. The Intern will gain understanding of sample management processes, including barcoding, inventory, container printing, sample handling, and proper sample storage. Develop creative solutions to streamline the sample management workflow. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Role Summary

The Sample Management Intern will support the Sample Management team by contributing to key projects and initiatives at the intersection of laboratory operations and digital workflow optimization. This role offers a unique opportunity to serve as both a hands-on laboratory contributor and a process improvement driver by helping to transform how samples are tracked, labeled, and managed across the research lifecycle. Working closely with experienced professionals, the intern will take meaningful ownership of real challenges: from ensuring accurate sample inventory in our ELN (Benchling) to building automated tracking solutions that improve efficiency for downstream teams. The internship will conclude with a presentation of the intern's findings and contributions. Throughout the internship, the intern will collaborate with team members, participate in team meetings, and assist with assigned deliverables while gaining insight into the broader organization.  

Key Responsibilities

Learning Objectives

By the end of this internship, the Sample Management Intern will gain an understanding of core sample management processes, including barcoding, inventory control, container printing, sample handling, and proper sample storage. The Intern will:

• Receive incoming samples and maintain accurate inventory records in the ELN (Benchling), ensuring proper documentation and traceability
• Support and optimize the container printing workflow to ensure labeled containers are consistently available for downstream teams.  
• Analyze existing workflows to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
• Assist in designing or implementing automated methods for tracking samples throughout the sample management lifecycle.  
• Collaborate with team members across departments to understand operational needs and contribute to workflow improvements.  
• Participate in team meetings and present a summary of project findings and recommendations at the end of the internship. 

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate program
• Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a science-related field
• Strong communication skills
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office/ other tools

Compensation: The is a paid internship. Hourly pay is based on current degree level

• Pursuing Bachelor’s degree: $27.00 per hour
• Pursuing Master’s (MS) degree: $30.00 per hour

Compensation is determined based on verified academic enrollment at the time of hire.

Equal Opportunity for Diversity & Inclusion  

SonoThera provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.