Every July, National Intern Day celebrates the curiosity, fresh perspectives, and contributions interns bring to the workforce. As interns and co-ops, we strive to embody these qualities every day while advancing Ultragenyx’s mission to transform the lives of people living with rare disease. From supporting commercial strategy and regulatory initiatives to advancing laboratory research and patient advocacy efforts, we are proud to represent the next generation of leaders committed to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by rare diseases.
Contributing to a Shared Purpose
Our internship program is shaped by the variety of experiences, passions, and perspectives of our collective team. This summer, we join Ultragenyx from around the world, from Brazil to California, bringing together a mix of educational backgrounds, career experiences, and perspectives. Across laboratories, corporate functions, commercial teams, and remote locations, we are focused on projects that support patients, families, and the broader rare disease community.
Map depicting the geographical location of our 2026 Emerging Talent Cohort. Infographic and mapping by Gabby Voit.
Meet Us
Joining the team on the West Coast of the U.S., Ashley Deleon Gomez brings an interdisciplinary background in political science, computer and data science, and is pursuing a Master of Information Management and Systems at the University of California, Berkeley.
This summer, Ashley supports launch and commercial operations through strategic planning and commercial readiness initiatives. Her project, Day One by Design, explores a framework to support future therapy launches, while keeping patient access at the forefront. Ashley is examining how families impacted by a specific rare disease navigate healthcare systems across settings and geographies to help ensure every eligible patient can benefit from a future therapy. Her vision is to create a scalable framework that supports successful launches while addressing the unique needs of each rare disease community. Inspired by Ultragenyx’s mission, Ashley is passionate about creating patient-centered solutions that improve access to care.
Based in the Somerville office, Olivia Vaughn is a rising senior at Wentworth Institute of Technology, studying business management with a minor in business analytics. Since joining Ultragenyx, she has supported Talent Acquisition by coordinating interviews, creating job requisitions, and assisting recruiters through the company’s applicant tracking system.
Olivia contributes to the implementation of Greenhouse Onboarding and a cross-functional systems integration project designed to improve employee data processes. For Olivia, the most rewarding part of her experience has been the culture. She has been inspired by how teams across the organization stay connected to the company’s mission. “Everyone shares the same purpose,” she explains. Her advice to future interns and co-ops: take initiative, ask questions, and invest in building relationships.
Sophia Zoog, endpoint development and strategy intern, supports initiatives that elevate patient and caregiver experiences while gaining insight into the role patient-centered research plays in rare disease. This summer, she has analyzed qualitative data from a clinical study, including caregiver interviews, to understand the real-world impact treatment can have on patients and families.
Reflecting on her experience, Sophia highlights Ultragenyx’s open and collaborative culture, sharing, “Everyone is open to learning, gaining new perspectives, and building connections. I’ve never felt hesitant to ask a question or reach out to someone for a conversation.”
Joining remotely from Wisconsin, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in cell & molecular biology, Gabby Voit supports the Clinical Regulatory Writing team by helping translate scientific data into documentation that supports regulatory submissions and patient access to therapies.
Gabby joined Ultragenyx to deepen her understanding of the regulatory frameworks guiding clinical development and contribute to work that accelerates the delivery of life-changing treatments to patients and their families. What stands out most to Gabby is the team’s passion and collaborative culture. Her advice to future interns and co-ops: network intentionally and take the time to understand how teams work together to advance the larger mission. Understanding cross-functional workflows broadens your perspective and deepens your experience.
Returning for her second summer at Ultragenyx, Amelia Allen joins the East Coast team with a background in biomedical engineering. After supporting the marketing team last summer, Amelia transitioned to the Woburn laboratory, where she is gaining hands-on research experience in analytical development for gene therapies. This summer, Amelia’s project focuses on studying how ionic strength influences AAV aggregation using dynamic light scattering to support the safe and effective development of future gene therapies.
Reflecting on her experience, Amelia shares, “I enjoy how friendly and supportive the culture is at Ultragenyx. Everyone is eager to teach me new skills and has trusted me to take ownership of my project.” While her first summer deepened her understanding of the patient experience, this summer has given her a new perspective on the science behind gene therapies and the work required to develop them intentionally.
At Ultragenyx, interns bring more than just support. We introduce new ideas, challenge assumptions, and are committed to shaping the future. As the 2026 Emerging Talent Cohort, we are proud to contribute to Ultragenyx’s mission and grateful for the opportunity, mentorship, and trust extended to each of us this summer.
