About Us Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.

It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.

Led by Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D. and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.

We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.

At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families , we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic —leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn , we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.

These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.

Position Title: 2026 Summer Intern – DMPK (Graduate student)

Department: Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics

Reports To: Principal Scientist

Location: South San Francisco, CA 5 days per week (Mon to Fri)

Job Overview Kardigan is looking for a scientific intern to join our DMPK team and gain hands-on exposure to a wide range of activities including assisting in characterizing the metabolic stability and reactive metabolites of small molecules, gaining experience in LC-MS and in-vitro DMPK assays. If you’re interested in developing analytical skills within a supportive and fast-moving environment, this role is a great fit. You’ll learn from experienced teammates and make a meaningful impact on our department.

What You’ll Do

• Hands-on lab work on metabolite characterization using HPLC and high-resolution LC-MS along with other various lab equipment.
• Assist in the development of in-vitro DMPK assays including work with transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes.
• The work will involve data analysis and scientific literature review.
• Present data at weekly meetings
• Prepare and present the findings of the internship at the end of summer research meeting.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Master's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field at an accredited university.
• Basic knowledge of pipetting and lab safety is required.
• Have a theoretical understanding of mass spectrometry and chromatography.
• This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about drug discovery and eager to learn from leaders in the group.
• Ideal candidate will have the ability to interpret and analyze experimental data, troubleshoot experiments, and propose solutions to challenges.

Pay: $35 per hour

Location requirement: Candidates must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area (no relocation assistance)