Welcome to Internship Insights! This new series will feature interviews with MCDB students about their experiences with internships during their time in the program. We hope that this series will help you learn more about finding, securing and working with internships while being a graduate student.

Our first Internship Insight features Mariam Salem, a fifth-year student in the lab of Patrick Collins. Mariam took the time to answer some questions about her experience with her internship at Eli Lilly and Company.

• What year are you in the MCDB program? Can you tell us about what you research in your lab?

I am in the fifth year of my PhD program. I work in an immunogenetics lab, where we study how different genetic regulatory signatures influence immune cell function and contribute to autoimmune and oncogenic diseases. Our research integrates a variety of computational and experimental approaches, ranging from single-cell multiomics to flow cytometry, to better understand the mechanisms underlying immune-mediated disease.

• Can you tell us about the internship? What have you been working on in this role?

I completed an internship at Eli Lilly and Company within the Medical Affairs department. During my internship, I worked with the Scientific Engagement and Communications teams (Medical Education), supporting efforts to educate healthcare professionals about cardiometabolic diseases and advances in patient care. The role provided valuable insight into how scientific information is communicated to the healthcare community and ultimately supports patient outcomes.

• Why were you interested in finding an internship as a graduate student? Was there something about this opportunity that attracted you to it?

I have been involved in research for the past eight years and have always been fascinated by how scientific discoveries made in the laboratory ultimately translate into improvements in patient care. I wanted to better understand the process that takes research findings from the bench to clinical trials and, eventually, to therapies that improve and save patients’ lives. This internship offered an opportunity to gain insight into that process and explore a career path where I could contribute to patient impact as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• How did you find this internship?

I first learned about the internship through an information session that Lilly hosted at Ohio State before the career fair. MCDB had sent an email announcing the session, and that was actually how I discovered the career fair itself. Attending the information session ultimately led me to pursue the opportunity.

• Do you have any tips, or know of any resources, for finding and securing internship opportunities?

At the information session and career fair, there were hundreds of students pursuing opportunities. Later, the recruiters shared a few reasons why they chose to offer me an internship:

• I had meaningful conversations with recruiters and scientists, demonstrating genuine curiosity about their work and asking thoughtful questions about the role and its impact.
• I followed up with thank-you emails to the recruiters and scientists I met, expressing appreciation for the time they spent discussing their work and experiences.
• Before my interview, I connected with several Lilly employees to learn more about the interview process, company culture, and day-to-day responsibilities. This initiative was something the interviewers specifically appreciated.

I would be happy to discuss in more detail about resources and tips to whoever is interested, but some general advice I would give is to remain open to different roles, companies, and conversations. Before this internship, I had very little knowledge of Medical Affairs, yet it became one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional development. It is also important to highlight not only your research accomplishments, but also the transferable skills you have developed during your PhD training.

One lesson I took away from this experience is that opportunities often come from being proactive "Closed mouths are never fed". Don't hesitate to reach out to recruiters, alumni, current employees, or former lab members through career fairs, networking events, LinkedIn, or informational interviews. People often appreciate the initiative because many of them benefited from similar outreach during their own careers.

Finally, always demonstrate enthusiasm for the role and a strong willingness to learn. Learning agility is one of the qualities most valued by employers, and pursuing a PhD is strong evidence of your ability to continuously learn and adapt.

• What's something that you've learned from this internship?

I learned a tremendous amount during my internship, but one of the most valuable lessons was gaining a broader understanding of the career opportunities available within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. More specifically, I learned about the many functions, teams, and roles that align with my scientific interests and desire to contribute to patient impact.

As PhD students, we often have a strong understanding of academic career paths, but many of us are less familiar with the wide range of opportunities available beyond traditional R&D and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) roles. I believe it is incredibly important to explore the many career paths available in both industry and academia before deciding on a post-graduation direction.

• Was there anything specific from your time in the MCDB program that has helped you with this internship? Is there anything you wish that you knew more about before starting the internship?

Absolutely. Presenting my research in MCDB seminars was extremely valuable in developing my communication skills and confidence when discussing my work, whether in interviews, meetings, or professional settings. In addition, serving as the MCDB delegate for the Council of Graduate Students helped me develop leadership and collaboration skills that translated directly to my internship experience.