Semester long internship to focus on nonprofit business operations and marketing

BIO Alabama welcomes three students into it’s fall internship program, a program for college students who are intrinsically curious about Alabama’s bioscience industry and are motivated to promote the intellectual and innovative capital that make our state a premier place to invest, start, and grow in bioscience.

Meryle Brown is a senior at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (AAMU) majoring in business administration with a concentration in MIS.  

“BIO Alabama is a mission driven organization committed to promoting our State’s bioscience community. While the bioscience industry is new to me, bioscience companies need business professionals, too.,” Brown said. “Interning with BIO Alabama will allow me to explore the industry and evaluate possible career tracks related to my undergraduate focus.”

Savannah Grace Knight is a biology student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

“I was always a very curious kid and as the daughter of a science teacher I began dissecting frogs and using microscopes in first grade. Once I settled on a major and career path, I found myself growing more passionate about topics such as scientific literacy and women in STEM,” Knight said. “I became involved with the American Association of University Women and participated in events such as Tech Trek and helped start UAH's own branch of AAUW. An internship with BIO Alabama falls right in line with my personal passion and my desire to work in a STEM career,” Knight adds.

Ariel Wright is a junior at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (AAMU) majoring in marketing. She is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar.  

“This year has been a year of change, a time for new experiences to learn and grow. Furthering my education endeavors with an internship with BIO Alabama will not only allow me to advance my marketing skills but will also teach me more about the impact bioscience has in Alabama,” Wright said. “I hope to continue to build my professional network and grow my knowledge of marketing strategy and tactics.”

Brown, Knight, and Wright will spend their fall semester supporting BIO Alabama’s virtual annual conference by assisting in the implementation of conference operations and marketing plans. Once the conference concludes in October, each intern will transition to projects associated with BIO Alabama’s strategic economic development roadmap which is focused on three areas 1) business attraction and retention; 2) workforce development; and 3) startup and tech transfer.

“We began our internship program this past summer with four students and we’re delighted to have three students on board for our fall internship program. Workforce development is a key focus area for BIO Alabama and internships are an incredible way to engage our next generation of professionals,” said Sonia Robinson, executive director of BIO Alabama. “We aim to provide students with real projects that they can own, shape, and manage from start to completion. This not only gives them tangible deliverables for their specific internship criteria, but they become immersed in the Alabama bioscience community. Our hope is that our student interns find our community  inviting and promising as they navigate options for their first career right out of college,” Robinson adds. “Our University partners graduate top talent and we want them to stay, work, and play in Alabama.”

BIO Alabama provides remote internship opportunities throughout the year. Interested students may email their cover letter and resume to sonia@bioalabama.com.  In addition to BIO Alabama, a number of bioscience companies across the state welcome interns. Interested students may contact BIO Alabama for more information. Bioscience companies who have available internships are encouraged to send internship opportunities to BIO Alabama for assistance in promoting those opportunities to partner colleges and universities.  

Interns support the executive director in further connecting our bioscience ecosystem. Internships with BIO Alabama are for college credit and follow the college or university's internship guidelines including minimum hour requirements and deliverables.