Los Angeles, CA – July 22, 2025 - The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation is proud to spotlight its 2025 Summer Internship Program, celebrating the energy, curiosity, and creativity of this year’s dynamic intern cohort. Now in full swing, the program welcomes 27 interns across three focus areas: biomedical research, innovation, and marketing.
Now at the midpoint of the program, interns have immersed themselves in hands-on projects ranging from marketing analytics reports to lab work and experiments. Beyond their core assignments, interns have participated in professional development workshops and collaborative activities designed to foster career growth and connection within the Institute’s vibrant community.
“The Terasaki Institute has been an amazing pathway toward my dreams in biomedical engineering,” said Shota Maekawa, a biomedical engineering student at UC Irvine. “Through projects in cancer precision medicine and medical device development, I’ve been able to contribute to research that could shape the future of patient care. Beyond the research, I’ve found a deeply positive and nurturing environment that’s helped me grow not only as an engineer, but as a person.”
The diverse backgrounds and passions of this year’s interns have helped shape a uniquely collaborative summer experience.
“This program has been absolutely perfect for me,” said Hannah Stone, a biology student at Boise State University. “The exposure I’ve gained to lab techniques like cell culture, histology, and imaging has been incredibly helpful. Terasaki has given me the opportunity to use equipment and develop skills I had only seen before on my favorite Forensic Files episodes!”
“The environment here is incredibly welcoming, and everyone is so kind and supportive,” added Savannah Azzi, a Cell and Molecular Biology student at San Diego State University. “I’ve really enjoyed learning new techniques like microscopy and preparing biomaterials for experiments. It’s been a truly inspiring place to grow as a scientist.”
“I love my experience here so far,” said Nick Kraemer, a biomedical research intern. “I’ve gotten a lot of great hands-on experience every day and learned so much from my mentors. I really like how there are many different teams at the Institute working on different projects.”
A highlight of the summer so far has been intern project presentations and the Terasaki Summer Picnic, both of which brought interns and staff together to celebrate their progress and forge deeper connections.
“This program is incredibly rewarding to watch our interns evolve from curious students into confident contributors in just a short few weeks and it’s such a privilege to mentor the next generation of future scientists and innovators,” said Dr. Natashya Falcone, Intern Program Director. “I love seeing our students light up with excitement about the science we do here. Every summer, their energy and curiosity reignite my own passion for research, and they bring a fresh perspective that truly inspires me and sparks new ideas. This program is designed not only to teach technical skills but also to ignite passion and confidence in each student’s unique journey.”
“Each year, our interns bring new perspectives and energy to the work we do,” said Dr. Khademhosseini, CEO of Terasaki Institute. “We’re proud to offer them a meaningful experience that not only supports their growth but also advances our mission of biomedical innovation.”
The Institute is honored to provide a collaborative, hands-on internship program that nurtures future leaders in science and innovation.