Applications for this internship will be accepted until May 15, 2012 or until filled. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited Graduate program at the time the internship takes place to be eligible. We encourage students who are interested in this opportunity to submit an application as soon as possible. This internship will last for three months over the summer and will offer a monthly stipend of USD 1,250/month. Additionally, please note internships with PATH are contingent upon the Intern providing documented proof of identity and eligibility to participate in a paid or unpaid practical training program in the United States, in accordance with federal immigration law. Please include a cover letter with your application.
PATH Overview
PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. PATH's mission is to improve the health of people around the word by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging health behaviors.
Program Overview
The primary goal of the Technology Solutions (TS) Global Program is to improve the health of women and children through the identification, adaptation, development, evaluation, advancement, and introduction of well-designed, affordable, and appropriate technologies for health, family planning, and nutrition.
Project background and aims:
The Vaccine Delivery Technologies (VDT) Group at PATH seeks to advance innovative technologies that enhance the effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of immunizations in low-resource settings. Two projects in the VDT portfolio include the Disposable-Syringe Jet Injector (DSJI) and the Microneedle Flu Patch projects.
DSJI Project: The primary goal of PATH’s project is to determine DSJIs’ value, appropriateness, and applicability to the delivery of vaccines in developing-country immunization programs. If PATH determines that these public-sector programs represent a viable market for DSJIs, the secondary goal is to advance their use. PATH is collaborating closely with multiple industry developers of DSJIs and health organizations, such as the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, to determine regulatory, clinical, and commercialization pathways necessary to ensure that the technologies remain affordable and adaptable for low-infrastructure immunization settings worldwide while still maintaining market returns for the developers of the technology.
Microneedle Flu Patch Project: PATH is collaborating with Georgia Institute of Technology on a Microneedle Flu Patch development project. PATH’s role is to evaluate legal, social, medical, and economic issues pertaining to self-administration of the flu patch. In the economic area, PATH is developing a framework to assess how introduction of a microneedle flu patch into the US flu vaccine delivery system could affect the delivery costs, coverage rates, and health impact of flu vaccines.
The internship would complement the commercialization objectives on these two projects, providing additional business planning on new technology introduction.
Goals and learning objectives for the intern:
The goals of the internship would be to:
- Work with the VDT commercialization team to conduct a market segmentation analysis for the microneedle flu patch.
- Implement two stakeholder analyses, one for the DSJI project and another for the microneedle flu patch.
- Support the team in exploring new business opportunities that may arise.
The learning objectives of the internship would be:
- Refine understanding of how new vaccine delivery technologies could affect current health systems within the US (Flu Patch) and developing countries (DSJI).
- Develop an understand of how key stakeholders and policy makers view the value proposition of a new vaccine delivery technology.
- Gain experience in market segmentation and stakeholder analysis.
Skills to be developed and/or expanded during the internship:
- An understanding of the vaccine delivery systems and considerations related to technology introduction.
- Business planning for new technology introduction, including market research, segmentation analysis and stakeholder analysis.
Proposed activities:
- Review project documents and relevant work to date.
- Work with the commercialization team to refine the approach to the Flu Patch Opportunity Matrix (market segmentation approach) and stakeholder analysis.
- Implement these analyses, which will require conducting market research and primary stakeholder interviews.
- Synthesize findings, in written and presentation form, making recommendations on next steps.
Brief description of required skills and experience:
- Experience in business planning, including market research desirable.
- Familiarity with issues around new technology introduction for global public health use.
- Basic understanding of US health delivery system for vaccines.
- Strong quantitative, qualitative, and organizational skills.
- Strong written communications skills.
- Ability to work independently and drive the analysis forward, seeking input and guidance when needed.
- MBA or business degree student.
Learning outcomes:
Acceptance of final documentation for market segmentation and stakeholder analyses.
Graduate-level Internship, VDT Commercialization