Co-op, Small Molecule Drug Development

About Biogen: 

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.  

Summary 

This application is for a 6-month student role from July - December 2024. Resume review begins in January 2024. 

The Small Molecule Drug Development group at Biogen is responsible for the development of preclinical, clinical, and commercial formulations to enable critical non-clinical studies and the manufacturing of clinical and commercial supplies. Through the comprehensive characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients, rational design of drug products, and robust process development, the group plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medications and improving patient compliance.  

Position Description 

Detailed description of role including but not limited to: 

Design and execute experiments under the supervision of SMEs. 

Collect and analyze samples. 

Keep thorough experimental records. 

Present experimental results/findings in oral presentation or poster format. 

Preparation of manuscripts 

The co-op project is aiming at developing a strategy for the selection of appropriate amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) technologies for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with various physical/chemical properties.  More and more APIs under development have poor water-solubility and hence low bioavailability. ASD technologies have been demonstrated to be an effective way for enhancing the dissolution and bioavailability of these low solubility drugs. There are multiple ways to prepare ASDs in the market, including (but not limited to) options such as Spray Drying (SD), Hot-melt Extrusion (HME), and co-precipitation. That said, these approaches are not suitable for all APIs. This coop project is to explore and characterize the impacts of different processes on the quality of drug products to help select the most suitable ASD technology for making drug products.  

Qualifications: 

Knowledge of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) technologies is preferred but not required.  

Familiarity with pharmaceutical analysis tools such as HPLC, PXRD, DSC, TGA, dissolution is desired but not required. 

Strong motivation, excellent communication, outstanding time management skills needed to work in a matrix team are highly desirable. 

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 

MS or PhD students in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, or related disciplines 

Location 

Cambridge, MA