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. 

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

The Neural Circuits group in Translational Sciences supports multiple programs across the portfolio by conducting in vivo EEG assays for drug efficacy studies. Our lab is also actively exploring new in vivo methods to discover disease-relevant biomarkers using both electrophysiological and imaging approaches. Recently, we developed assays to longitudinally quantify synaptic plasticity in vivo which is known to be impaired in many neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Our next step is to apply these platforms in mouse models of disease and confirm whether we can detect known deficits and observe a rescue. These assays would bolster the power of our efficacy studies across multiple programs and accelerate our preclinical drug discovery efforts. 

Position Description 

The Neural Circuits group is seeking a winter co-op to assist with our efforts in executing exploratory in vivo assays for programs in the GND and ND Research Units. Over the course of the co-op, the candidate will learn to implement state-of-the-art imaging and/or EEG techniques to longitudinally record functional data from large cohorts of mice. After a brief training period, the candidate will be able to independently prepare animals for awake or anesthetized recordings and analyze recorded data using custom software in MATLAB. The goal by the end of the co-op will be to demonstrate our ability to detect plasticity deficits in a relevant mouse model and show a rescue with a tool compound. The candidate will gain first-hand experience in how animal models are applied to drug discovery and development, and the challenges involved in applying findings from basic research to the design of a project in industry. At the end of the internship, they will present their findings in a PowerPoint to both the Neural Circuits lab and at the co-op presentation series.  

Beyond the core project, the candidate will learn to read and digest primary literature, attend and participate in weekly lab meetings, and attend larger, department-wide meetings where they will be exposed to the research strategy of various portfolio programs at Biogen.

• Required: At least one year of previous experience in a laboratory setting 
• Required: Hands-on experience working with mice 
• A plus: Experience with in vivo electrophysiology, imaging, or coding in MATLAB or another programming language 

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
• Graduation date no earlier than December 2024

Education 

Current undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Biology, Neuroscience, or a related field

This position is hybrid, based in Cambridge, MA

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.