FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS EVENTS
The USC Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship programs are designed to prepare postdoctoral scholars for rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. Fellows work with mentors to participate in activities that enhance the skills required to excel in their field. Selected graduate coursework in the regulatory sciences, biopharmaceutical marketing and health care decision analysis programs, among others, at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are part of the fellowship in addition to the training they receive at our industry partner sites.
Training opportunities available for doctoral candidates include the broad categories of clinical development, clinical pharmacology, drug delivery systems, immunology, medical affairs, pharmaceutical sciences, portfolio strategy and project management regulatory affairs, research pharmacology, toxicology, and others.
Please refer to the brochures below for specific programming offered with our various industry partners including AbbVie, Inc, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc, Gilead Sciences, MannKind Corporation, and Neurocrine Biosciences. Each of these fellowships offer unique opportunities for the trainees to gain specialized skill for their chosen field.
Upon completion of the program, fellows will be prepared for the challenges of a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Past fellows have been placed into rewarding positions in industry, pharmacy practice and research. All fellowships begin July 1 and end on June 30.
Key Highlights
- Access to USC Regulatory Science, Biopharmaceutical Marketing, and Health Care Decision Analysis courses, among others, with tuition remission up to four units per semester
- Opportunity to participate in various certificate programs at the USC Mann School
- Networking with USC students and alumni
- Participating in professional leadership workshops
- Financial relocation assistance for out-of-state fellows
- Financial support to attend professional conferences and events
- Participate in teaching opportunities at the USC Mann School
- Recruiting prospective graduate and professional students to the Fellowship Program
Available Fellowships
AbbVie, Inc.
The one-year Clinical Development Fellowship provides an immersive introduction to clinical research in global drug development. As an active member of multiple clinical teams, the fellow will develop an understanding of the principles and challenges of developing novel therapeutics, while operating within national and international guidelines for good clinical practice. With close guidance from mentors, the fellow will gain broad exposure to interdisciplinary functional areas, with latitude to set individualized objectives within projects of particular interest.
Objectives
- Develop expertise in novel therapeutics and their clinical applications
- Support the execution of the integrated evidence generation plan, regulatory submissions and development of associated clinical trial documents (e.g., protocols, investigator brochures, procedure manuals, informed consent forms, and clinical study reports)
- Learn operational aspects of clinical trial design from startup, through execution, and closeout
- Participate in processes of ongoing data review, analysis, and reporting
- Prepare and present clinical data at internal team meetings as needed
- Contribute to the timely performance of clinical trials by collaborating in a cross-functional team setting
Irvine, CA
This one-year Clinical Development Fellowship provides an immersive introduction to clinical research in global drug development. As an active member of multiple clinical teams, the fellow will develop an understanding of the principles and challenges in developing novel therapeutics, while operating within GCP, ICH, and other agency guidelines. Under mentored guidance, the fellow will gain broad exposure to many interdisciplinary functional areas, while individualized objectives will tailor their involvement to projects of particular interest.
Objectives
- Develop expertise in novel therapeutics and their clinical applications
- Support the execution of the integrated evidence generation plan, regulatory submissions and development of associated clinical trial documents (e.g., protocols, investigator brochures, procedure manuals, informed consent forms, and clinical study reports)
- Learn operational aspects of clinical trial design from startup, through execution, and closeout
- Participate in processes of ongoing data review, analysis, and reporting
- Prepare and present clinical data at internal team meetings as needed
- Contribute to the timely performance of clinical trials by collaborating in a cross-functional team setting
Irvine, CA
Core AbbVie therapeutic areas, such as Eye Care and Aesthetic Medicine, are highly reliant on local delivery of drugs to enable the desired therapeutic effect. AbbVie’s Drug Delivery Sciences Department, part of Development Sciences, has established industry-leading drug delivery capabilities (e.g., bio-erodible sustained release, delivery devices) to support a diverse portfolio of small molecules and biologics. The one-year Drug Delivery Sciences fellowship focuses on the design and development of new drug delivery systems and related capabilities including new technologies and novel adaptations of existing systems. This fellowship is intended to give postdoctoral researchers exposure to conducting R&D in the pharmaceutical industry, while advancing the fellow’s own scientific and professional growth. The fellow will also have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in other departments and disciplines within R&D.
Objectives
- Contribute to the advancement of AbbVie’s science and capabilities in one or more areas of drug delivery
- Collaborate with other scientists, both within and outside the department, to design and evaluate drug delivery systems and enable new products that address unmet medical need
The one-year Medical Affairs + Health Impact: Operations and Value & Evidence Fellowships focus on providing exposure to five pillars of functionality: Global Scientific Publications, Medical Program Management, Global Medical Information, Medical Payer Strategy, and Evidence Planning & Execution. The fellow will be able to develop firsthand experiences in management of post-marketing clinical research, medical information functional operations, portfolio management and strategy, or global strategic publications. This program will provide the fellows the necessary tools to become successful professionals within the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the opportunity to network with a lasting legacy of alumni fellows.
Objectives
- Global Scientific Publications (Irvine, CA): Collaborate with internal and external authors to write scientific publications (abstracts, posters, podium presentations, and manuscripts) supportive of business and scientific objectives. Interface with in-function partners, cross-functional teams, and external thought leaders to ensure alignment on data analysis, data interpretation, and scientific communication strategy. Manage all activities related to the development of publication projects, adhering to standardized processes, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality publications.
- Medical Program Management (Chicago, IL): Partner directly with Global medical teams and leadership across all AbbVie therapeutic areas to plan and execute a unique blend of medical activities including medical strategy, congresses, symposiums, ad boards, medical education, launch readiness preparation, and more. Develop a strong foundation of business acumen and firsthand understanding of the critical connections between Medical planning, Operations, and Global execution.
- Global Medical Information (Chicago, IL): Develop scientifically-balanced global content in a health-literate style to respond to unsolicited medical inquiries from HCPs and consumers. Collaborate with our Medical Affairs colleagues to develop launch preparedness plans for new products and indications. Generate and interpret valuable insights with cross-functional partners that inform strategy. The fellow will focus on Specialty Care, including areas of HCV, Eye Care, GI Care, and Anti-infectives.
- Medical Payer Strategy (Chicago, IL): Learn about the U.S. Payor landscape and how the AbbVie portfolio of medications fit within the total ecosystem. Medical Payer Strategy is the medical side of Market Access. In this role, the fellow will work with many cross-functional partners including Market Access, HEOR, Regulatory Affairs, the Value & Access field teams, and many more. The fellow will be put in the therapeutic area where there is the greatest opportunity to learn, including the ability to see a medication through an FDA approval. In addition, the fellow will be able to lead projects, attend senior level meetings and appropriate conferences, and engage with a diverse range of seasoned professionals who will mentor them through the early stages of their career.
- Evidence Planning and Execution (Chicago, IL): Partner with all AbbVie therapeutic areas and geographies to strategize on filling evidence gaps and execute new and ongoing post marketing clinical research to provide valuable information to physicians, patients, and payors on AbbVie products around the world. Provide transparency of trial status to key stakeholders for internally and externally sponsored research. Gain operational hands-on experience in study management and oversight of externally sponsored research, contributing to the advancement of forward-thinking medicine.
The one-year Medical Affairs + Health Impact: Therapeutic Area fellowships provide an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to excel as an industry professional in medical affairs. This program will prepare fellows for a career in the pharmaceutical industry by focusing on developing a deep understanding of medical affairs and how it ties into the business. Additionally, the fellowship provides significant experience in a corporate setting, enabling fellows to hone their business and clinical skills. The program also aims to foster professional development; provide intensive, hands-on training; and expose fellows to a variety of industry-based opportunities, creating a balanced structure of learning and immersive work experience.
Available positions include*:
- Immunology – Dermatology (Chicago, IL)
- Neuroscience – Psychiatry (Florham Park, NJ)
- Eye Care (Chicago, IL)
- Specialty (Chicago, IL)
Objectives
- Professional development to promote learning agility, leadership, critical thinking, and team-building skills
- Networking to establish both personal and professional relationships among colleagues, industry professionals, and health care providers
- Receiving training on and applying regulations related to the medical review of pharmaceutical promotion
- Developing knowledge of AbbVie’s products, clinical trials, and associated disease states
- Contributing to the launch preparation of new indications
- Conducting literature evaluations and critically analyzing clinical data
- Partnering with cross-functional teams on pipeline and on-market assets to gain understanding of product life-cycle management
- Evaluating the competitive landscape and preparing gap analyses
- Developing materials and training for the Field Medical Team (Medical Science Liaisons – MSLs, or Medical Outcomes Science Liaisons – MOSLs)
- Opportunities to travel for congresses, national meetings, and field immersion experiences with MSLs
Irvine, CA
The one-year Pharmaceutical Sciences Fellowship focuses on the design and evaluation of novel oral, ophthalmic, and dermal formulations. As part of the training program, the fellow will be provided opportunities to gain first-hand experience with the different functional areas of the Pharmaceutical Sciences organization. This fellowship program is intended to give postdoctoral research training to support the fellow’s professional and career growth.
Objectives
- Design and evaluate novel oral, ophthalmic, and dermal formulations
- Evaluate the effect of excipients and processing parameters on quality and performance
- Investigate new formulation platform technologies
- Expand technical writing skills by developing, reviewing, and writing protocols and technical reports
Irvine, CA
This one-year Research Pharmacology Fellowship focuses on developing the pre-clinical translational skills required of a pharmacology scientist. As part of the training program, the fellow will participate in pre-clinical study activities including study conceptualization through study design, protocol development, study execution, and cross functional team interactions across multiple therapeutic areas within AbbVie. Additionally, interested fellows can gain expertise in pharmacology sections of regulatory submissions, and interact with scientists from other functions such as formulation development, clinical pharmacology and clinical development. The fellowship is intended to enhance the postdoctoral research training of the applicant with hands-on application of core biological principles and techniques to move programs from preclinical stages to clinical development for key AbbVie programs.
Objectives
- Independently design and conduct pharmacology studies to support program projects
- Research, design and validate novel platforms or targets
- Be able to execute, interpret, and deliver data analyses
- If applicable, present work at internal AbbVie meetings, a professional meeting and/or author a scientific publication
Bausch + Lomb
The one-year Clinical Development Fellowship provides an immersive introduction to clinical research in global drug development. As an active member of multiple clinical teams, the fellow will develop an understanding of the principles and challenges of developing novel therapeutics, while operating within national and international guidelines for good clinical practice. With close guidance from mentors, the fellow will gain broad exposure to interdisciplinary functional areas, with latitude to set individualized objectives within projects of particular interest.
Objectives
- Develop expertise in novel therapeutics and their clinical applications
- Support the execution of the integrated evidence generation plan, regulatory submissions and development of associated clinical trial documents (e.g., protocols, investigator brochures, procedure manuals, informed consent forms, and clinical study reports)
- Learn operational aspects of clinical trial design from startup, through execution, and closeout
- Participate in processes of ongoing data review, analysis, and reporting
- Prepare and present clinical data at internal team meetings as needed
- Contribute to the timely performance of clinical trials by collaborating in a cross-functional team setting
Director: Kevin Kerr, PharmD, MS, senior director, clinical development
The USC-Bausch + Lomb Fellowship in Clinical Development will provide an opportunity for a recent PharmD graduate to develop essential skills for launching a career as a clinical scientist in the pharmaceutical industry.
The USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fellowship programs are designed to prepare postdoctoral scholars for rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Upon completion of the program, fellows will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Fellows work with mentors to participate in activities that enhance the skills required to excel in their field. Graduate-level coursework and seminars through the University of Southern California are included in the program.
Objectives
The USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fellowship program aims to:
- Provide mentorship and hands-on training to fellows seeking to develop skills and gain experience required to pursue a research career in the pharmaceutical industry;
- Cultivate an understanding of clinical development strategy and execution, enabling advancement of Bausch + Lomb’s innovative Pharmaceuticals and Consumer eye care pipeline, from first-in-human through global marketing approval.
Contingent on fellow performance, business needs, and job availability, trainees may be considered for employment activities at Bausch + Lomb upon completion of the training program.
Program Activities
During this two-year Fellowship, the fellow will:
- Provide clinical input to inform the design and execution of clinical studies, drawing from scientific literature reviews and competitive intelligence analysis;
- Contribute to authoring study documents such as protocols, procedure manuals, and Investigator’s Brochures, as well as clinical sections of Regulatory dossiers such a briefing packages, safety updates, and other submissions;
- Conduct medical and scientific review of ongoing clinical data and contribute to data analysis and clinical interpretation of completed trial data;
- Complete a project aligned with Bausch + Lomb’s research interests and present the findings at a scientific conference;
- Engage with cross-functional teams, including Clinical Services, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Project Management, and Research Pharmacology colleagues to develop a comprehensive understanding of the product development process.
Requirements
Candidates for the fellowship must a) have a doctoral degree from an accredited college or university within 5 years of initial appointment, b) submit an application online at USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences online application, c) possess good oral and written communication skills and Bausch + Lomb core values of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, excellence, and integrity.
Director: Lori-Ann Christie, PhD, senior director, biological research
The USC-Bausch + Lomb Fellowship in Research Pharmacology will provide an opportunity for a recent PhD graduate to build early drug discovery and development skills required for a scientist role in industry and contribute to B+L’s innovative pharma and consumer eye care pipeline.
Program Purpose
The USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fellowship programs are designed to prepare postdoctoral scholars for rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Upon completion of the program, the fellows are prepared for the challenges of a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fellows work with mentors to participate in activities that enhance the skills required to excel in their field. Graduate-level coursework and seminars through the University of Southern California are included in the program.
Program Objectives
The USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fellowship program aims to:
- provide mentorship and hands-on training to fellows seeking to develop skills and gain experience required to pursue a research career in the pharmaceutical industry.
- foster a deep understanding of how research pharmacology programs are designed and executed to deliver important, decision-making data enabling advancement of Bausch + Lomb’s innovative pharma and consumer eye care pipeline.
In addition, contingent on fellow performance, business need, and job vacancies, there may be an opportunity for the trainee to be a candidate for employment activities at Bausch + Lomb upon completion of the training program.
Program Activities
During this two-year Fellowship, the fellow will:
- conduct hands-on in vitro experimentation and oversee outsourced in vivo proof of concept studies supporting early-stage pharmaceutical and consumer eye care projects.
- participate in strategic prioritization of research activities to achieve key milestones to advance our pharmaceutical and consumer eye care pipeline at Bausch + Lomb.
- interact with cross-functional teams, including formulations and product development, clinical development, commercial and legal colleagues to develop an understanding of how these pieces come together to successfully bring a new product to market.
Requirements
Candidates for the fellowship must a) have a doctoral degree from an accredited college or university within 5 years of initial appointment, b) apply online at USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences online application, c) possess good oral and written communication skills and reflect Bausch + Lomb’s core values of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, excellence, and integrity.
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
The University of Southern California Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science and Gilead Sciences, Inc. Oncology Clinical Development fellowship is designed to provide recent doctoral graduates (PharmD, MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent doctorate degree) an opportunity to learn the skills and experiences to excel in Clinical Development within Gilead’s Clinical Development Oncology Department. The fellowship is based at the Gilead U.S. headquarters in Foster City, California, with opportunity to rotate through other departments at Gilead. The fellow will be an integral part of the Clinical Development Oncology Department and partake in core clinical development activities within individual study management teams, as well as internal and external stakeholder management.
Fellowship Goal
The fellow will develop a thorough understanding of Clinical Development and its role within the organization, collaborating with several cross functional groups and gaining an understanding of different development functions. The fellow will develop competencies that will allow the fellow to significantly contribute to clinical trial design and execution through developing clinical protocols, informed consent, assisting in data review, supporting scientific publications, and delivering presentations, as well as providing ongoing scientific and clinical oversight to study teams.
Clinical Development, Oncology Fellowship Activities
Develop understanding of assigned program and molecule within the company pipeline:
Review of literature and scientific materials, as well as contribute to the clinical development plan. Opportunity to be involved in study design and study start up activities.
Clinical Development strategy Potential to contribute to the clinical development plan for the assigned program or molecule.
Author and maintain key clinical documents:
Participate in the development of study protocol (publication and amendments), informed consent forms, medical monitoring plan, and relevant publication plan.
Medical Monitoring:
Participate and lead medical monitoring activities to ensure study conduct integrity which involve activities that include but not limited to: responding to study eligibility inquiries, perform medical data review, manage medical resolutions with investigators as needed.
Scientific communication and stakeholder management:
Participate and present at investigator meetings, site initiation visits, KOL engagement, and study steering committee interactions.
Fellowship Recruitment:
Participate and lead fellowship recruitment activities at regional and national conferences.
USC Graduate Coursework:
Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership, and Career Development:
Participate in the University of Southern California, USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and leadership Retreat.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027: One Position Available
Location: Based onsite at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Headquarters in Foster City, California
Vision: Gilead’s Oncology Clinical Development Fellowship Program aims to honor Gilead’s mission to discover, develop, and deliver innovative therapeutics for people with life-threatening disease by fostering a collaborative learning environment for fellows to obtain hands-on experience in the design and conduct of early and late-stage oncology clinical trials to advance medicines for patients with high unmet medical need, working under the close guidance and mentorship of the fellowship program directors.
Fellowship Overview: In partnership with the University of Southern California, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gilead’s Oncology Clinical Development Fellowship Program is designed to provide doctoral graduates (PharmD, MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent doctorate degree) an opportunity to learn the skills and gain the experiences needed to excel in Clinical Development within Gilead’s Clinical Development Oncology Department. The fellow will be an integral part of the department and partake in core clinical development activities within individual study management teams as well as on other projects and initiatives within the department.
Fellowship Goal: The fellow will develop a thorough understanding of Clinical Development and its role within the pharmaceutical industry, working closely alongside Medical Directors and Clinical Scientists and in collaboration with various cross-functional groups, including clinical operations, patient safety, data sciences, biomarker sciences, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs. During the 2-year program, the fellow will develop competencies that will allow the fellow to make impactful contributions to clinical trial design and execution through the development of clinical study protocols, informed consent forms, and other study documents, as well conducting medical data review and providing ongoing scientific and clinical oversight to assigned studies. The fellow will also have opportunities to strengthen communication skills through delivering presentations and interacting with various internal and external stakeholders and attending medical congresses and other professional meetings.
Clinical Development, Oncology Fellowship Activities:
Develop disease area expertise and a deep clinical understanding of the assigned program/molecule:
Review scientific literature and stay up to date on data impacting the therapeutic landscape of the assigned molecule and its clinical application. Opportunity to attend conferences to learn, further develop disease area expertise, and participate in study-related activities and engagements.
Clinical development strategy:
Opportunity to work closely with the clinical development team on study-related and other strategic initiatives aimed at advancing the assigned program/molecule.
Author and maintain key clinical trial documents:
Participate in the development of study protocols and protocol amendments, informed consent forms, medical monitoring plan, publication plan and other study-related clinical documents.
Medical monitor activities:
Contribute to and lead medical monitoring activities to ensure study and medical data integrity, which includes but is not limited to, responding to site and health authority inquiries, creating site communications, and engaging with investigators and site staff on study-related issues as needed.
Conduct medical data review and lead data preparation for key study milestones:
Lead and facilitate the clinical data review process, ensuring clinical data quality in preparation for important study specific meetings and activities at various study milestones.
Scientific communication and stakeholder management:
Participate and present at various meetings including investigator meetings, site initiation visits, engagements with key opinion leaders, study steering committee, and independent data monitoring committee.
Fellowship recruitment:
Lead and participate in fellowship recruitment activities.
USC graduate coursework:
Opportunity to complete graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the option of completing a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership, and career development:
Participate in the University of Southern California, USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: One Position Available
Location: Based onsite at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Headquarters in Foster City, California; occasional travel will be needed for in-person conferences and team meetings
Vision: To collaborate innovatively for cancer patients by generating and providing meaningful information for oncology healthcare professionals and the broader scientific community
Fellowship Overview: The Oncology Global Medical Affairs Fellowship, offered in collaboration with the University of Southern California, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Gilead Sciences, is designed for a doctoral-level graduate (PharmD, MD, or PhD) interested in pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry. The fellow will have extensive exposure to the Global Medical Affairs organization and gain a thorough understanding of the role of Medical Affairs within the oncology pharmaceutical industry.
Fellowship Goal: To provide an opportunity for recent doctoral graduates to learn the skills necessary for a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry with an emphasis in Oncology Medical Affairs external-sponsored research and evidence generation activities.
Global Medical Affairs, Oncology Fellowship Activities:
Oncology Medical Affairs External-Sponsored Research:
Manage projects related to the review, approval, and medical oversight of the Oncology Medical Affairs collaborative studies research program.
Local Medical Affiliate Engagement:
Build and maintain relationships with local medical affairs teams (in-house strategy, field personnel) to both gather insights to inform global strategy and provide training on global medical evidence generation strategy, processes, and projects.
Medical Affairs Launch Activities:
Support various launch activities including advisory board planning, congress preparation, publication planning, content generation for global and affiliate use.
Operational Excellence:
Collaborate with the Global Medical Affairs team to work on projects regarding process improvement and implementation of innovative technology.
Compliance:
Learn and comply with regulations and guidance from the various national and global regulatory agencies that govern the pharmaceutical industry.
Collaboration:
Collaborate with colleagues from other departments to learn about the role of Global Medical Affairs in the wider organization.
External-Department Rotations:
Based on the fellow’s interests, there is an opportunity to participate in rotations with external departments to gain a comprehensive experience and skills in pharmaceutical industry.
Potential departments to perform a rotation with may include Affiliate Medical Affairs, Field- Based Medical Sciences, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing, etc.
USC Graduate Coursework:
Based on the fellow’s interests, they can complete graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership, Teaching and Career Development:
Participate in the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat and precept Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation students.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: One Position Available
Location: Based onsite at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Headquarters in Foster City, California; occasional travel may be needed for in-person conferences and meetings
Vision: To strengthen patient care by connecting our customers to best-in-class medical information
Fellowship Overview: The University of Southern California, USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Gilead Sciences, Inc. are proud to offer one 12-month Medical Information Fellowship designed to provide recent PharmD graduates an opportunity to learn the skills and experiences to excel in Medical Information, a key function in any Medical Affairs organization across the pharmaceutical industry. The fellowship is based at the Gilead U.S. headquarters in Foster City, California. The Fellow will be integral to the Global Medical Information teams that develop and manage Medical Information content in response to requests from healthcare professionals, patients, and their caregivers.
Fellowship Goal: To provide an opportunity for recent PharmD graduates to learn the skills necessary for a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry with an emphasis in Medical Information.
Global Medical Strategic Operations, Medical Information Fellowship Activities:
Medical Information Content:
Write, update, and review Medical Information content for healthcare providers and patients such as Global Response Documents (GRDs), Local Response Documents (LRDs), Patient Response Documents (PRDs), and alternative content formats (including infographics)
Medical Information Clinical Expertise:
Work with the Global Medical Information Clinicians to develop clinical expertise in specific therapeutic areas to draft and disseminate unbiased and scientifically balanced responses to requests for medical information escalated from Medical Information contact centers and affiliate teams.
Operational Excellence:
Work with Medical Information and Operations teams across regions on process improvement initiatives, implement innovative technologies to support Medical Information, ensure inspection readiness, and help manage the Medical Information contact centers.
Participate in Medical Review:
The fellow will have the opportunity to support development of US promotional materials, commercial learning and development materials, field medical slide decks, and Medical Information generated response documents to ensure medical accuracy, cultural appropriateness, alignment with product indication, alignment with public health guidelines and alignment with the Medical Affairs Plan of Action and strategic messaging.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Collaborate with colleagues from other departments (Commercial, Marketing, Medical Scientists, etc.) and support Medical Affairs by providing product and drug information expertise on a wide range of initiatives including staffing the medical information booth at national scientific meetings and consulting on cross- functional activities.
Compliance:
Learn and comply with regulations and guidance from various national and global regulatory agencies that govern the pharmaceutical industry.
External-Department Rotations:
Based on the Fellow’s interests, there is an opportunity to participate in rotations with external departments across the Gilead organization to gain a comprehensive experience and skillset in the pharmaceutical industry.
Potential departments to perform rotations with include Regulatory Affairs (Advertising and Promotion), Field-Based Medical Sciences, Medical Affairs Research (Phase IV/Investigator Sponsored Research), etc.
USC Graduate Coursework:
Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership, Teaching and Career Development:
Participate in the University of Southern California, USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat, involvement in Pharma Collaboration for Transparent Medical Information (PhactMI) fellow’s community and precept Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation students.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027: Two Positions Available
Location: Based onsite at Gilead Sciences Inc. Headquarters in Foster City, California
Vision: Gilead’s Patient Safety Fellowship Program aims to foster a collaborative learning environment for fellows to understand and be directly involved in Patient Safety’s role in drug development and commercialization to communicate the risks of Gilead’s medicines.
Fellowship Overview: The University of Southern California, USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Gilead Sciences, Inc. are proud to offer two 2-year Patient Safety fellowship positions to recent doctoral graduates (PharmD, MD, PhD, or equivalent doctorate degree) interested in pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry and Patient Safety.
Fellowship Goal: The fellows will develop a thorough understanding of Patient Safety and its role within the organization and learn skills and experiences important to excel in this group. The fellows will collaborate with cross-functional groups and learn about different development functions.
Patient Safety Fellowship Activities:
Pharmacovigilance:
Learn about US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulations related to pharmacovigilance practices including preparation of aggregate reports such as Development Safety Update Reports (DSURs) and PBRER (Periodic Benefit Risk Evaluation Reports) and development and maintenance of risk management plans (RMPs).
Conduct signal detection and evaluation activities for assigned products in collaboration with the Patient Safety Physician and Scientist as part of the continuous benefit-risk evaluation throughout the product lifecycle including contributing to safety reviews of adverse events using various data sources.
Contribute to activities related to regulatory filings, New Drug Applications [NDAs], Biologics License Applications [BLAs]), and responses to safety queries from regulatory agencies.
Have the opportunity to work in a combination of therapeutic areas including oncology, virology, or inflammatory diseases and learn about other areas of Patient Safety including safety operations, analytics, and coding if interested.
Safety in Clinical Trials:
Support the review of clinical trial documents including protocols, Investigator’s Brochures, clinical study reports, and informed consent forms.
Support the review and monitoring of clinical trial safety data to define the benefit- risk profile of Gilead products at different stages of drug development.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Collaborate with colleagues from other departments such as Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, Clinical Pharmacology, and Nonclinical Safety & Pathobiology to learn about how these functions interact with Patient Safety.
USC Graduate Coursework:
Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership and Career Development:
Participate in the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: One Position Available
Location: Based onsite at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Headquarters in Foster City, California
Fellowship Overview: The USC-Gilead Sciences HIV Prevention Global Medical Affairs Fellowship program will provide an opportunity for a recent PharmD graduate to learn the skills necessary to excel in a career in the pharmaceutical industry within Medical Affairs, focusing on Gilead’s Global HIV Prevention strategy.
Fellowship Goal: To provide an opportunity for a recent PharmD graduate to break into the pharmaceutical industry by equipping them with the skills necessary to pursue a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically in Medical Affairs.
Global Medical Affairs, HIV Prevention Fellowship Activities:
Development of Strategic Thinking and Planning:
The fellow may help with strategic workstreams and processes including the Global HIV Prevention Plan of Action (POA), the HIV Medical Narrative, field content development strategy (for scientific data discussions with HCPs and Allied HCPs), and other strategic workstreams.
Medical Affairs Content:
The fellow will be involved with the creation, updating, and review of Medical Affairs content such as reactive slide decks, videos/infographics, FAQ documents, Medical Affairs advisory presentations, and Commercial Learning and Development Presentations.
The fellow may be involved in the development and delivery of training materials for the sales and medical scientist’ teams.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
The fellow will collaborate with colleagues from other departments (including Medical Information, Global Commercial, US Medical Affairs, Public Affairs, Clinical Research, Government Affairs, among others) to learn about the role and value of Medical Affairs within the wider organization.
Phase 4 Research:
The fellow will participate in Phase 4 Research activities in HIV Prevention, including reviewing proposals, creating study design slides, planning, and executing Requests for Proposal (RFP) programs, and medical oversight of the Phase 4 portfolio.
External Engagement and Conference Coverage:
The fellow may be involved in helping to plan and execute external engagement and conference coverage activities including Medical Advisory Programs, Conference debriefs, post-conference slide deck development, Symposiums, and conference activity planning, coverage, and execution.
Compliance:
The fellow will learn and comply with regulations and guidance from the various national and global regulatory agencies that govern the pharmaceutical industry.
Additional Activities:
Based on the fellow’s interest, there may be an opportunity to participate in rotations with other departments and/or TAs to gain comprehensive experience and skills in the pharmaceutical industry.
USC Graduate Coursework:
Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership, Mentoring, and Career Development:
Participate in the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional
Development and Leadership Retreat, as well as precept 3rd and 4th-year pharmacy APPE students.
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: One Position Available
Location: Based onsite at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Headquarters in Foster City, California; occasional travel will be needed for in-person conferences and/or team meetings
Fellowship Overview: The USC-Gilead Sciences HIV Prevention and Treatment Medical Affairs Fellowship program will provide an opportunity for a recent PharmD graduate to learn the skills necessary to excel in a career in the pharmaceutical industry within Medical Affairs, focusing on Gilead’s HIV Prevention and Treatment strategy in the United States.
U.S. Medical Affairs, HIV Prevention and Treatment Fellowship Activities:
Develop Strategic Thinking:
The fellow will help create and implement strategies to end the HIV epidemic through the HIV Prevention and Treatment Plan of Action (POA), which drives Gilead’s activities across the HIV Landscape.
Medical Affairs Content:
The fellow will be involved with the creation, updating, and reviewing of Medical Affairs content such as reactive slide decks, FAQ documents, Medical Affairs advisory presentations, and Commercial Learning and Development Presentations.
Additionally, the fellow will support the development of content aimed at effectively educating healthcare providers on guidelines, protocols, and efficacy and safety profiles.
The fellow will be involved in the development and delivery of training material for the sales and medical scientist teams. The fellow will collaborate with Global and U.S. Medical Affairs Colleagues to cover major HIV Treatment/HIV Prevention conferences, delivering timely conference summaries to Medical Scientists and U.S. Providers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
The fellow will collaborate with colleagues from other departments (Medical Information, Global Medical Affairs, Marketing, Clinical Research, Government Affairs) to learn about the role and value of Medical Affairs within the wider organization.
Compliance:
The fellow will learn and comply with regulations and guidance from the various national and global regulatory agencies that govern the pharmaceutical industry.
Additional Activities:
Based on the fellow’s interest, there is an opportunity to participate in rotations with other departments to gain comprehensive experience and skills in the pharmaceutical industry. Examples include clinical research, regulatory affairs, and patient access.
The fellow may also have the opportunity to engage in scientific discussions with Key Opinion Leaders during field rides with the Medical Scientists.
USC Graduate Coursework:
Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate Program in a variety of fields.
Leadership and Career Development:
Participate in the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat.
Kite
In collaboration with the USC Mann School, MannKind Corporation’s Global Headquarters in Westlake Village, California is proud to offer a one-year Medical Affairs Post-Doctoral Fellowship from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
As an integral member of Mannkind’s Medical Team, the fellow will gain exposure and get hands-on practice experience in the Medical Affairs functional specialty in the biopharmaceutical industry. These will include developing, participating, and being an integral team member on business priorities including:
- Headquarters Medical Information and Vendor Management
- Field-based external Medical Communications (ie, collaboration with Medical Science Liaisons)
- Medical Congress Planning and Attendance
- Publication Planning
- Advisory Board Development
- Investigator-Initiated Trials
- Phase 1-4 Studies (ie, design, development, implementation)
- Exposure and collaboration with various internal departments (Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Marketing, Sales/Sales Training, Business Development, etc.
Fellows will have many opportunities to travel to Medical Conferences (based on COVID guidelines) and work on project teams to develop and refine leadership, communication, decision-making, interpersonal, and influence skills.
Training objectives of the fellowship will include:
- Create and deliver scientifically balanced medical information to healthcare professionals
- Create and review scientific communication materials for internal and external communication
- Review commercial materials with other departments
Collaborate with safety surveillance teams to capture insights to present to the broader medical and clinical affairs organization - Explain international regulatory rules (outside US)
- Complete USC graduate coursework as applicable
The USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Kite, a Gilead Company, are proud to offer a 12-month US Medical Affairs Fellowship program designed to provide recent Pharm.D., MD, Ph.D., or equivalent advanced degree graduates an opportunity to learn the skills and experiences to excel in US Medical Affairs, key functions in any Medical Affairs organization across the pharmaceutical industry. The fellow will be an integral part of the US Medical Affairs team and will create and ensure implementation of strategy for Medical Affairs within the region of United States.
Fellowship Primary Objectives:
During the fellowship within US Medical, the fellow will have the opportunity to undertake responsibilities such as:
- Help create and implement 2026 Plan of Action (POA) for US Medical
- Support US Medical Director on implementation of key program initiatives
- Participate in cross-functional projects to create internal and external deliverables
- Contribute to strategic activities such as advisory boards, medical education, and evidence generation
- Identify, develop, and execute trainings to increase scientific knowledge and skill development
- Support product launches
- Work on special projects as needed, which will further strategic imperatives
Collaboration
- Collaborate with other departments at Kite (Scientific Communications & Medical Information, Global Medical Affairs Strategy, US Commercial and others) to learn the value that US Medical Affairs bring to the broader organization.
Compliance
- Learn and comply with regulations and guidance from various national and global regulatory agencies that govern the pharmaceutical industry.
USC Graduate Coursework
- Encouraged to complete graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Certificate in Regulatory Sciences or Healthcare Decision Analysis.
eadership, Teaching and Career Development
- Participate in teaching opportunities at the University of Southern California through collaborations with the School of Pharmacy and gain guidance on career advancement at the annual Professional Development and Leadership Retreat and Fellowship Symposium.
MannKind Corporation
In collaboration with the USC Mann School, MannKind Corporation’s Global Headquarters in Westlake Village, California is proud to offer a one-year Medical Affairs Post-Doctoral Fellowship from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
As an integral member of Mannkind’s Medical Team, the fellow will gain exposure and get hands-on practice experience in the Medical Affairs functional specialty in the biopharmaceutical industry. These will include developing, participating, and being an integral team member on business priorities including:
- Headquarters Medical Information and Vendor Management
- Field-based external Medical Communications (ie, collaboration with Medical Science Liaisons)
- Medical Congress Planning and Attendance
- Publication Planning
- Advisory Board Development
- Investigator-Initiated Trials
- Phase 1-4 Studies (ie, design, development, implementation)
- Exposure and collaboration with various internal departments (Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Marketing, Sales/Sales Training, Business Development, etc.
Fellows will have many opportunities to travel to Medical Conferences (based on COVID guidelines) and work on project teams to develop and refine leadership, communication, decision-making, interpersonal, and influence skills.
Training objectives of the fellowship will include:
- Create and deliver scientifically balanced medical information to healthcare professionals
- Create and review scientific communication materials for internal and external communication
- Review commercial materials with other departments
Collaborate with safety surveillance teams to capture insights to present to the broader medical and clinical affairs organization - Explain international regulatory rules (outside US)
- Complete USC graduate coursework as applicable
At MannKind, fellows will gain exposure and practice experience in the Medical Affairs functional sub-specialty in the biopharmaceuticals industry. Fellows will develop, participate, and be an integral team member on business priorities, such as:
- Field-based Medical Communications (e.g., content creation for the Medical Education team)
- Medical Information Contact Center and vendor management
- Medical Congress planning and attendance
- Publication planning
- Phase 1-4 Studies (e.g., design, development, implementation)
- Exposure and collaboration with various internal departments: Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Marketing, Sales, Business Development, etc.
In addition, fellows will have many opportunities on project teams to develop and refine leadership, communication, decision-making, interpersonal, and influence skills.
At USC Mann School, fellows will have scholastic and academic opportunities, including:
- Taking professional coursework and completing certificate programs
- Lecturing industry elective courses
- Teaching and mentoring senior rotational pharmacy students at host company
- Recruitment and selection of the next class of USC post-doctoral fellows
Neurocrine Biosciences
The one-year Medical Communications Fellowship is designed to provide the trainee a broad understanding of the various roles and responsibilities within Medical Communications with an in-depth focus on Medical Information and Content Development. The fellowship will provide training activities that support company goals as well as developmental opportunities through broad-based hands-on experiences and mentorships that integrate them into several medical strategic initiatives. Upon completion of the program, the Fellow will be better prepared for the challenges of a Medical Affairs career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fellowship Objectives
- Train as a core member of the Medical Communications team to gain insight into the various roles and responsibilities of careers within this department
- Medical Information: Deliver accurate, fair-balanced, evidence-based information to patients and healthcare professionals
- Medical Content Development: Create, manage, and update key resources to communicate disease state information and clinical data on both approved and pipeline products
- Publications: Train in cross-functional teams to assist with the execution of the strategic publication plans
- Medical Training: Collaborate with key internal stakeholders to support the development of educational materials based on Neurocrine therapies and disease states
- Collaborate with key cross-functional internal partners including Field Medical Affairs, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Development
- Identify medical team needs and data gaps, and collaborate internally to help drive appropriate solutions and projects
- Develop, implement, and present a longitudinal research project
- Serve as a rotation preceptor to pharmacy students
- Collaborate with the other Neurocrine Fellows
- Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Certificate in Regulatory Sciences
- Participate in the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat
The one-year Clinical Development Fellowship aims to provide a foundational understanding in drug development and clinical research. This fellowship programs provides hands-on experience in the strategic planning, execution, and data analysis of early- and late-stage clinical trials across clinical programs in neurology, psychiatry, and endocrinology. Upon completion of this program, the fellow will be prepared for the challenges of a career in clinical development in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fellowship Objectives
- Train as a member of the Clinical Development team to gain insight into the opportunities and challenges of a career in clinical research
- Gain an understanding of the strategic and operational components of Phase I-IV clinical trials including planning, recruitment, execution, and closeout while operating within Good Clinical Practice (GCP), International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), internal protocols and other guidelines as appropriate
- Contribute to scientific writing and/or review of key study documents, such as protocol, statistical analysis plan (SAP), informed consent form (ICF), investigator brochure (IB), and clinical study report (CSR)
- Participate in clinical monitoring and ongoing data collection, review, analysis, and reporting
- Collaborate with key cross-functional partners including Clinical Operations, Program Management, Quality Assurance, Drug Safety, Biostatistics, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Affairs
- Serve as subject matter expert on clinical matters with focus on Immunology and Rheumatology in support of pipeline programs
- Identify development program needs and data gaps and collaborate internally to help drive appropriate solutions and projects
- Develop, implement, and present a research project with intent to disseminate/publish.
- Collaborate with the other Neurocrine Fellows
- Complete graduate coursework at USC with the opportunity to complete a graduate certificate in US Regulatory Affairs or Healthcare Decision Analysis
- Participate in the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat
This two-year Medical Communications Fellowship is designed to provide the trainee with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted roles and responsibilities within Medical Communications. This program focuses on three core areas: Medical Information, Content Development, and Medical Education Training. Additionally, second year Fellows will have the opportunity to select elective rotations, including Publications Strategy and Medical Directors, depending on the interests of the Fellow as well as business needs. The fellowship offers a unique blend of training activities that support company goals as well as developmental opportunities through broad-based, hands-on experiences and mentorships that integrate them into several medical strategic initiatives.
Upon completion of the program, the Fellow will be well-prepared for the challenges of a Medical Affairs career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fellowship Objectives
- Train as a core member of the Medical Communications team to gain valuable insights into the various roles and responsibilities of careers within this department:
- Medical Information: Deliver accurate, fair-balanced, evidence-based information to patients and healthcare professionals
- Medical Content Development: Develop strategically-aligned content to effectively communicate disease state information and clinical data on both approved and pipeline products
- Medical Education Training: Create, implement, facilitate, and provide medical education and training programs to support the clinical pipeline and marketed products
- Collaborate closely with key cross-functional internal partners, including Field Medical Affairs, Publications, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Development
- Attend medical congresses to staff the medical booth and share gathered medical inquiry insights with cross-functional partners
- Identify medical team needs and data gaps, and collaborate internally to help drive appropriate solutions and projects that advance the company’s strategic objectives
- Develop a subject matter expert level of scientific acumen for marketed products and/or prioritized clinical pipeline programs
- Develop, implement, and present a longitudinal research project
- Serve as a rotation preceptor to pharmacy students
- Participate in the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat
- Optional: Complete graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Certificate in Regulatory Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Marketing, and Health Care Decision Analysis
The two-year Field Medical Affairs/Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Fellowship is designed to provide the trainee with a comprehensive understanding of the MSL role and insight into the various roles within Medical Affairs. The fellowship will provide training activities that support company goals, as well as developmental opportunities through broad-based, hands-on experiences and mentorships that integrate the Fellow into several Medical Affairs strategic initiatives. Upon completion of the program, the Fellow will be better prepared for the challenges of an MSL career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fellowship Objectives
- Gain Medical Science Liaison experience and training in the field by learning to build collaborative KOL relationships, effective communication skills, participate in scientific data exchange, and apply the medical strategy during real life HCP interactions
- Collaborate with key cross-functional internal partners within Neurocrine, including the Managed Care Liaisons, Medical Communications, Medical Information, Health Economics Outcomes Research, medical directors, clinical development, compliance, regulatory, and marketing personnel
- Participate in MSL certification and presentation skill development
- Train as a core member of the Field Medical Affairs team to assist in providing accurate, fair balanced, evidence-based information about Neurocrine approved and pipeline products to internal stakeholders and external customers
- Identify medical team needs and data gaps, and collaborate internally to help drive appropriate solutions and projects
- Support the product speakers’ bureaus
- Gain an understanding of research initiatives through active participation in site nominations, study initiation visits, data dissemination, and the Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT) process
- Develop, implement, and present a longitudinal research project
- Serve as a rotation preceptor to pharmacy students
- Mentor first year Fellow in the second year
- Collaborate with the other Neurocrine Fellows
- Complete required graduate coursework at the University of Southern California with the opportunity to complete a Certificate in Regulatory Sciences
- Participate in the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Development and Leadership Retreat
How to Apply
To learn more about the application process, click here.
