Biology
Summer Intern, Discovery Pharmacology (Neuroscience)
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 Preclinical Neuroscience Research Intern will support discovery research at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals by contributing to the analysis and interpretation of neurophysiology and behavioral data in preclinical studies. This internship offers hands-on experience working with electrophysiological data, behavioral assessments, and molecular follow-up in a collaborative research environment. The intern will work closely with scientists to help evaluate potential therapeutic targets and gain insight into how functional and molecular data are integrated during early drug discovery.
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
- Analyze EEG seizure activity from KA-induced rat studied
- Cross-reference EEG seizure events with behavioral video recordings to confirm seizure manifestations.
- Support molecular characterization of candidate targets through protein expression analysis using techniques such as JESS, ELISA, or related assays.
- Assist in correlating molecular knockdown with seizure frequency and severity to assess target relevance.
- Organize, analyze, and interpret experimental data with strong attention to accuracy and integrity.
- Collaborate closely with in vivo scientists, neuroscientists, and data analysts to support interpretation of findings.
- Maintain detailed experimental records and contribute to study documentation.
- Participate in team meetings and scientific discussions.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled student at an accredited university or college, majoring in a biology-related field such as Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Human Biology, Neuroscience, or a related discipline.
- Completion of relevant coursework in biology or life sciences.
- Completion of coursework in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and/or Biotechnology
- Prior experience with EEG data analysis
- Basic knowledge of protein analysis techniques (e.g., Western blotting, ELISA, JESS).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong curiosity and motivation to learn new laboratory techniques.
Preferred
- Hands-on experience with behavioral phenotyping in preclinical models.
- Prior laboratory experience supporting CNS or epilepsy research.
- Interest in RNAi therapeutics, neuroscience drug discovery, or translational research.
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary research environment.
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.