Policy Intern

RTW Institute; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The RTW Institute in New York City seeks motivated students for a Policy Internship starting in October. The 8- to 10-week, full-time internship offers hands-on research at the intersection of biomedical innovation, healthcare economics, and public policy, with opportunities to produce briefs and scripts.

Interns will analyze drug development, affordability, and regulatory trends, present findings to stakeholders, and gain experience collaborating with policy experts.

Qualifications

• Strong research skills with experience reviewing scientific literature, policy reports, and analyses.
• Familiarity with healthcare policy, regulatory frameworks, and drug development.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Highly detail-oriented, proactive and organized.
• Ability to synthesize complex scientific and policy information into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on drug development, healthcare affordability and access, and policy changes.
• Monitor and summarize biotech and regulatory landscape trends.
• Analyze case studies and data to assess health and economic impacts.
• Draft white papers, policy briefs, rapid-response content, or explainer scripts.
• Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Writing skills

Communication skills

Detail oriented

Education

Graduate student or recent graduate in life sciences/public policy/public health/business

Job description

The RTW Institute is a think tank that was founded in 2026 as the policy and advocacy arm of RTW Investments, LP, a biotechnology investment firm. The Institute focuses on two primary areas: protecting the long-term incentives that drive drug innovation and identifying systemic challenges related to healthcare affordability and patient access. Our overarching goal is to translate complex health and regulatory policies into clear insights for policymakers and the public. Through humanized, rigorous research, we aim to support more informed policy discussions and decision-making in healthcare.

Program Overview

We are seeking highly motivated individuals for a Policy Internship beginning in October. This unique opportunity is designed for those with a keen interest in the intersection of biomedical innovation, healthcare economics, and public policy.

Interns will conduct focused, in-depth research on key healthcare policy topics, synthesizing findings into clear, digestible insights for internal and external stakeholders. These efforts will support the RTW Institute's content development and contribute to more informed discussions across the biotechnology and health policy landscape. Through this internship, participants will gain hands-on experience evaluating scientific data, tracking regulatory developments, and contributing to policy discussions in collaboration with leading experts in the field.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research on topics related to drug development, healthcare affordability and access, and the impact of regulatory and policy changes.
• Monitor and summarize current trends and developments in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and the legislative or regulatory landscapes.
• Analyze case studies and primary and secondary data to assess the health and economic impact of innovative therapies and emerging policy developments.
• Collaborate with team members to draft white papers, policy briefs, rapid-response content, or explainer video scripts.
• Present findings and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Graduate students or recent graduates, including exceptional undergraduate students, in fields such as life sciences, public policy, public health, business, or related disciplines.
• Strong research skills, with experience reviewing scientific literature, policy reports, and industry analyses.
• Familiarity with healthcare policy, regulatory frameworks, and the fundamentals of drug development.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Highly detail-oriented, proactive, and organized.
• Ability to synthesize complex scientific and policy information into clear, actionable insights.
• Duration: 8-10 weeks, beginning October 5, 2026
• Location: RTW Institute, 40 10th Ave, New York, NY

This is a full-time paid 10-week internship based in NYC.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

In accordance with New York City's Pay Transparency Law, the hourly range for this position will be $35-45.