Job Title: Intern, Research Alliances (Summer Internship)
About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors, and volunteers. Since our founding in 2000, MJFF has grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research ― having funded $1.75 billion in research to date ― and fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure.
Visit www.michaeljfox.org for more information.
Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (“MJFF”) is seeking a summer intern within our Research Alliance Department. The Research Alliances team at “MJFF” acts as dot-connectors between “MJFF” priorities & resources and the range of external stakeholders working in Parkinson’s. We support relationships & partnerships with these stakeholders, as well as serve as a centralized intelligence source within “MJFF” on the landscape of Parkinson’s stakeholders.
“MJFF” works to de-risk Parkinson’s research & therapeutic development by funding new ideas and helping groups develop the initial data package needed to attract follow-on support. The intern will help to define & document our de-risking success criteria and establish a robust, systematic approach to tracking “MJFF’s” de-risking impact. Specifically, this will include developing a framework to evaluate whether therapeutic programs “MJFF” has funded to date have progressed in development and/or gone on to receive follow-on support (e.g., from investors, industry partners). This work is expected to lay the groundwork for a de-risking tracking mechanism that will continue to be used going forward. It will not only inform “MJFF’s” funding strategy, but it will yield metrics to support storytelling around the impact of “MJFF’s” work. We trust all interns to work closely with their manager to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct internal stakeholder interviews to distill our definition of de-risking, aspirations for better tracking and expectations around tracking’s broader use
- Helping to document de-risking success criteria and develop a robust, systematic tracking mechanism to assess “MJFF’s” de-risking impact (over time and for future use)
- Conduct de-risking analysis on funded therapeutic projects since 2013
- Gather intelligence on the proportion of therapeutic programs currently in development in Parkinson’s that “MJFF” has directly funded
- Share progress updates in weekly check-ins with manager
- Present aggregated work to “MJFF” Research Leadership & team members at conclusion of internship
Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience in one or more of the following:
- Working in a relevant discipline within the healthcare (life sciences, and/or biotech & pharma) or within business space
- A bachelor’s degree
- MBA candidates
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills
- Conscientious working style with great attention to detail
- Proven ability to be resourceful and work independently
- Comfortable using Microsoft Office, specifically PowerPoint and data gathering in Excel
How We Work:
We have three ways of working: office first, hybrid-flex, or remote work. We trust all employees to collaborate with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how your work, programs and projects get done.
Salary:
The hourly range for this position is:
- Undergraduate Students: $15-$18/hour
- Graduate Students: $18-$20/hour
Training & Development:
Regular training courses and events are offered by The Michael J. Fox Foundation to cultivate our staff and leadership.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.
Vaccine Statement:
At The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the health and safety of our team and our community is a priority. All employees are required to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, subject to any legally required accommodation.
Research has shown that people from marginalized communities apply to roles only when they meet 100 percent of the job requirements. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, and you are someone who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, we strongly encourage you to apply.