Discovery Chemistry
Summer Intern, Biochemistry (Cell-Based Assay Development)
Office Location: San Diego, CA
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARWR) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.
Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.
The Position
The Summer Intern, Biochemistry (Cell-Based Assay Development) will support discovery research at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals by contributing to the development and execution of cell-based assays used for antibody screening. This internship offers hands-on laboratory experience supporting routine experiments, data analysis, and documentation that help accelerate research progress. The intern will work closely with scientists to generate high-quality data and gain exposure to assay development workflows within a collaborative research environment.
This is an 11-week Summer Internship Program paying $24.00 per hour and requires full-time, onsite work five days per week at the designated location.
Responsibilities
- Maintain primary and established cell lines to support ongoing research activities.
- Perform molecular biology tasks, including plasmid preparation and construction.
- Generate experimental data using techniques such as multicolor flow cytometry and ELISA.
- Isolate proteins, DNA, and RNA from cell cultures and conduct analyses using qPCR, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot.
- Analyze, interpret, and organize experimental data with strong attention to detail.
- Assist with routine instrument maintenance, inventory management, and general laboratory upkeeping.
- Maintain accurate experimental records and contribute to reports or documentation as needed.
- Comply with EHS guidelines, complete required safety training, and follow SOPs to ensure data integrity and regulatory compliance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (completed or in progress) in Biological Sciences or a related field.
- Completion of relevant coursework in biology or life sciences.
- Familiarity with routine molecular and cellular biology techniques.
- Hands-on experience with ELISA and flow cytometry.
- Familiarity with cell-based assay development or antibody screening.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong curiosity and motivation to learn new laboratory techniques.
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.