Design Intern

🎨 Design Internship at Tolka

Tolka is a pioneering biotech startup backed by Khosla Ventures, Draper Associates, and NIH, focused on developing patient-tailored phage therapy to tackle one of humanity's most urgent challenges: antibiotic resistance.

By 2050, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are projected to kill more people than cancer. At Tolka, we believe phages—nature’s original nanobots, hyper-specific, self-replicating, and astonishingly adaptable—are our best shot at stopping this silent pandemic.

As we advance the science, we also need to communicate our vision with clarity and impact. That’s where you come in.

💻 About the Role

We are seeking a design intern with strong visual communication skills to help craft Tolka’s story across pitch decks, our website, and marketing collateral. This is a hands-on creative role where you’ll work closely with founders and the business team to transform complex science into compelling, professional design.

This is more than an internship—it’s a chance to shape how the future of medicine is seen and understood.

Pay: $17–$20/hour
Location: Remote (U.S.-based)
Minimum age: 18 years

🎨 What You’ll Do

Design and refine investor pitch decks and presentations

Support visual storytelling for our website and digital presence

Create LinkedIn banners, business cards, and other brand materials

Develop clear, engaging visuals that communicate complex ideas simply

Collaborate with leadership to iterate on design concepts quickly

Ensure brand consistency across all deliverables

Participate in strategy discussions on how Tolka communicates science to different audiences

🌟 What You’ll Gain

Real-world experience designing for a venture-backed biotech startup

A portfolio of impactful projects including brand assets, and website design

Mentorship from founders with backgrounds in science, entrepreneurship, and venture capital

Exposure to the intersection of science, storytelling, and fundraising

The opportunity to contribute creatively to a company tackling one of the biggest global health threats

✅ Who Should Apply?

You might be a great fit if:

You’re currently studying UX design, graphic/communication design, or a related field

You have experience (classwork or freelance) designing slides, websites, or brand assets

You’re skilled with tools like Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar

You care about clean, professional design and can adapt your style to fit brand needs

You’re curious, organized, and eager to learn by doing

You thrive on projects that matter and want your work to have real-world impact

We welcome applications from undergraduates, graduate students, community college students, and recent graduates.

If some of the above doesn’t align perfectly with your background—don’t worry. If you’re thoughtful, a quick learner, and a collaborative teammate, we still encourage you to apply.