Life Sciences Intern Summer 2026

The Life Sciences Intern, reporting to the Director of Life Sciences, will play a supporting role in facilitating a strategic planning meeting with potential to shape the department’s research directions and funding priorities. This internship focuses on assistance with the preparation and execution of strategic planning sessions, support for coordination of virtual and in-person sessions and follow-through on action items aligned with the John Templeton Foundation’s mission. This position provides hands-on exposure to science philanthropy and insight into strategic planning and how it enables the donor’s vision to drive department and foundation-wide priorities and initiatives, project selection, funding decisions, and long-term scientific impact.

Primary Areas of Responsibility:

• Strategic Planning Meeting Support: Assist in planning and coordinating critical strategic planning meetings for the Life Sciences department, including agenda development, scheduling, and logistics for in-person and virtual sessions. Help identify key discussion topics, such as emerging priorities in biological research and funding landscapes.
  • Donor Mission Alignment: Contribute to evaluating how proposed planning meeting sessions and topics align with the donor’s vision and the Foundation’s goals in Life Sciences. Conduct background research on potential speakers and attendees, review past grants, and prepare summary materials highlighting mission fit, potential impact, and interdisciplinary connections.
  • Research and Preparation: Perform targeted internet and database research to gather data on scientific trends, speaker/attendee backgrounds, or relevant publications. Compile briefing documents, slides, and reports to inform strategic discussions and decision-making.
• Administrative and Follow-Up Support: Track action items, decisions, and next steps from internal coordination meetings and assist in updating internal databases or tracking tools.
• General Department Support: Provide general administrative assistance, such as organizing meeting notes, preparing post-meeting summaries, and supporting budget monitoring for related activities.

Criteria & Relevant Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably a Ph.D., related to the areas of responsibility – Life Sciences (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Neuroscience), Philosophy of Biology, Psychology or related field.
• Strong interest in strategic philanthropy, grantmaking processes, and understanding how a donor’s mission shapes scientific funding at foundations like the John Templeton Foundation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex scientific or strategic information clearly.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel for data tracking, Word for reports, and PowerPoint for presentation materials) is required; willingness to learn internal foundation tools and databases.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working independently on research tasks while collaborating with a small team.
• A personal interest in the Foundation’s mission—supporting bold, interdisciplinary inquiries into life’s fundamental questions—is highly preferred.

Position Details

Hybrid role based in West Conshohocken, PA, up to four days per week, for approximately 12 weeks (June-August). Hours will average 10-15 per week. Hours may increase during key strategic planning periods, with occasional required in-office presence for critical sessions (typically around one day per week).