Position description:

Calico is seeking an intern to join the Hahn group in their mission to investigate the mechanisms driving brain aging and age-related neuroinflammation. To succeed, you will need to be an enthusiastic team player, detail-oriented, extremely organized and comfortable working on complex problems. In this position you will support our efforts to harness novel screening systems (like this) to study brain immune cells at scale, in order to identify novel regulators of their cellular physiology. The successful candidate will work closely with members of the Hahn group on combining novel and innovative primary and progenitor-derived cell culture systems with advanced functional assays and in vivo cell tracking approaches, with the long-term aim of uncovering novel biological drivers of immune aging. 

Responsibilities: 

• Prepare, optimize and run in vitro and/or ex vivo cell phenotyping assays
• Analyze multiplexed image-based data 
• Work in collaboration with other members of the group on ex and in vivo cell tracking methods

Position requirements:

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS degree in cell biology, neuroscience, immunology, or related field
• Interest in brain physiology and age-related changes
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• Self-motivated with a “can-do” attitude
• Ability to work on-site in the South San Francisco lab space

Technical requirements (one or more of the following):

• Hands-on experience with tissue culture/sterile techniques 
• Hands-on experience and comfortable with laboratory animal work
• Hands-on knowledge of microscopy techniques for imaging fixed and/or live tissue

Nice to have:

• Experience with analysis of microscopy-based imaging and/or single-cell transcriptomics data
• Experience with functional genomics/CRISPR/single gene knockouts

About our Program:

Calico’s internship program is a paid 12-week program over the summer for students interested in understanding the fundamental science of aging and finding treatments for the associated and intractable diseases. Working in a collaborative environment and fully embedded in one of our labs/teams, Calico interns tackle a unique project under the mentorship of at least one of our scientists or engineers. 

Program Features:

• 3-month summer timeline
• In-person experience at our offices in South San Francisco
• Matching with at least one Calico mentor
• Group supplemental activities weekly featuring guest speakers, Senior Leadership spotlights, and discussion groups on aging science, our drug development approach, and more
• End-of-summer company-wide project showcase and poster session
• Competitive compensation ($45 - $70/hour) and monthly living expenses stipend
  

Program Eligibility:

• Able to work in-person at our offices in South San Francisco
• Free for a consecutive period of 11-12 weeks in June, July, and August
• Not graduating before December 2026
  • Exception for students enrolling into a graduate degree program in Fall 2026
• Must be enrolled in a US university
• Must apply by application deadline: February 1, 2026.