Co-op, Antibody Discovery

Research & Development           ·           Cambridge, MA          ·           Full time 

• Cambridge, MA
• Full-time
• Department: Research & Development
• Region: US

Company Description

At Biogen, our mission is clear – we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Together, our employees create, commercialize, and manufacture transformative therapies for our patient population. 

We at Biogen are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients who we serve. We are focused on strengthening our foundation to advance our overall Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) strategy and, most importantly, ensure all our employees feel included.

As an intern or co-op at Biogen, you can expect to be placed on a real project, under the guidance of experienced professionals and subject matter experts who are invested in your career and academic growth. We also ensure that you have plenty of opportunities to build your network, learn more about our organization through weekly lunch and learns led by leaders from across the company, and join us for several fun events.

Job Description

Summary 

This application is for a 6-month student role from January – June 2024. Resume review begins in October 2023. 

Within research and development, the Antibody Discovery group focuses on the discovery and engineering of therapeutic and research antibodies to support project teams and portfolio projects across Biogen’s core disease areas. We utilize both in vitro antibody display technology along with in vivo immune libraries to discover and optimize antibodies for therapeutic applications. 

Position Description 

The project will focus on generation and characterization of antibody hits in a high-throughput format from both in vitro and in vivo library sources. As a co-op, you will express and purify hundreds of antibodies using established high-throughput robotic methods and assist in antibody characterization for both binding affinity (using common SPR-based methods as well as flow cytometry) and biophysical characterization (including ELISA and chromatography-based methods). These efforts will support both existing pipeline projects as well as novel technical development applications within biologics drug discovery. In doing so, you will learn a variety of high-throughput antibody characterization and bioinformatics techniques while contributing significantly to the internal dataset of antibody candidates to support pipeline projects and machine learning efforts. 

Key Responsibilities:  

• Microbial or mammalian cell culture 
• Antibody expression 
• Operate automated Hamilton liquid handlers for high-throughput protein purification 
• Antibody binding analysis via SPR and/or flow cytometry methods 
• Antibody sequence analysis using Sanger or Next Generation Sequencing tools 
• Various HPLC liquid chromatography assays 
• ELISA binding assays, antibody developability assays 

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in therapeutic antibodies and biotechnology. Previous lab experience is preferred, with a preference in the areas of protein expression/purification, antibody binding and biophysical characterization, cell culture and molecular biology techniques. Proficiency with Excel is required for antibody sequence and data analysis. 

To participate in the Biogen Internship Program, students must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. 
• At least 18 years of age prior to the scheduled start date 
• Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university. 

Education 

Undergraduate and Graduate students with previous research experience. Majors include (but not limited to): Chemical/Biological/Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences and other related disciplines.  

Additional Information

Why Biogen?

Our mission to find therapies for neurological and rare diseases is a unique focus within our industry and this shared purpose is what connects us as a team. We work together to overcome obstacles and to follow the science. We are resilient as we strive to make an impact on our patients’ lives and on changing the course of medicine. Together, we pioneer. Together, we thrive.

At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired. Read on to learn more about our DE&I efforts.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.

Please click here to apply.