The virtual bootcamp, run by Bottom Line, prepared students for a very unusual summer internship experience. Almost all of our internships this summer were “remote-work” positions. Students got started on the right foot with inspiration from keynote speaker Imran Babar, PhD, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Tiburio Therapeutics.

Rob Perez of General Atlantic, Amir Nashat of Polaris Partners and Aremin Hacobian of Third Rock Ventures gave students perspective on the industry in 2020 and beyond. Students asked questions, and networked after the virtual session.

A conversation with CEOs Chip Clark (Genocea Biosciences) and Rene Russo (Xilio Therapeutics) was followed by small group discussions for students with over a dozen industry volunteers about career paths in the life science industry. The volunteers included Catherine Cushenberry (Pear Therapeutics), Courtney Utsey (Enzyvant), Michele Rhee (X4 Pharmaceuticals), Shana Walrond (Bristol Myers Squibb), Andrew Rodriguez (Millipore Sigma) Susu Wong (Tomo360), Ornella Nelson (Abbvie), Rosana Kapeller (Rome Therapeutics), Juan Betanzo (Celsius Therapeutics) and Forest Sun (Flagship Pioneering). These small groups were able to delve more deeply into individual student questions, and more easily forge connections with the volunteers.

The showcase was a virtual celebration of a challenging summer, and of the incredible work that interns did despite these challenges. Remarks by CEO David Lucchino of Frequency Therapeutics kicked off the event, and preceded the presentation of summer work by each of the interns. The mood was celebratory as the intern cohort congratulated each other on getting through summer 2020!