2026 Synthetic Chemistry Intern Overview  

Envision spending your summer working with energetic colleagues and inspirational leaders, all while gaining world-class experience in one of the most dynamic organizations in the pharmaceutical industry. This is a reality for AbbVie Interns.  

We are seeking a motivated PhD intern with experience in synthetic organic chemistry and reaction development to develop next-generation chemical processes for late-stage and commercial small-molecule assets. This role will center on a collaborative effort between PDS&T and Process Chemistry in the development of process improvements to commercial processes. The intern will be responsible for planning, executing, and analyzing the results of experiments spanning reaction scales from microgram to decagram using a vast array of modern scientific reaction monitoring and analysis platforms.  

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in synthetic organic/organometallic catalysis, the development of enantioselective transformations, and modern analytical techniques and data analysis.  

Key responsibilities include: 

• High-throughput experimentation and reaction screening 

• High-throughput data collection and analysis 

• Mechanistic analysis of organic reactions 

• Collaborative experimentation between colleagues in PDS&T and Development Sciences 

• Reaction design, planning, and scale up