PhD internship in Neuroscience for 12 months - RiSE program

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The Position

Title: RiSE - Roche internship for Scientific Exchange – Protein engineering for AAV-based therapeutic approaches in neuromuscular disorders (12 months)

The Position

The RiSE program (Roche Internships for Scientific Exchange) is a highly competitive student research program at Roche. It offers the most talented postgraduate PhD and medical degree students the opportunity to be fully integrated into our interdisciplinary and international industry R&D environment. As a RiSE student you will enhance your competencies, gain valuable work experience with us, and eventually become part of a world-wide network of RiSE Alumni.

The Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area (NRD DTA) is developing medicines for a range of serious neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, spinal muscular atrophy, and Huntington’s disease.

As RiSE student in the NRD DTA you will join our group in the systems neuroscience section and perform at the Roche Innovation Center Basel, Switzerland, focussing on establishing protein engineering strategies for AAV-based gene therapy approaches for neuromuscular disorders. You will be hosted and co-mentored by Roche scientists who will guide you through your research and provide you with the needed work infrastructure and collaborative network.

During the internship your tasks will include:

• Phenotypic and functional characterization of disease-associated proteins in cell-based models.
• Design, preparation, and execution of experiments and data interpretation.
• Present your progress and data at internal meetings.
• High commitment to work with a proactive mindset and in close collaboration with the team and project members in order to effectively advance exploratory projects.

Who You Are

You’re someone who wants to influence your own development. You’re looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests across functions and geographies. Where a job title is not considered the final definition of who you are, but the starting point.

Moreover you are/have:

• Enrolled in a PhD or medical degree program at a university and are looking to expand your experience with an industry internship (PhD thesis can't be defended during the first half of the internship)
• Solid understanding of protein biochemistry, cell / molecular biology and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Expert user of imaging tools such as confocal or high-content imaging with image analysis.
• Highly motivated individual eager to learn and establish cutting-edge techniques.
• Self-motivated and independent thinker with excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the desire to work in a fast-paced, cutting-edge environment.

Information about application documents and start date:

The preferred start date of the internship is April 2024 or upon availability.

Applications need to include a CV and a cover letter, as well as a letter from your academic supervisor supporting your application to the RiSE Program.

Please note that due to regulations non-EU/EFTA citizens have to provide a certificate from the university stating that an industry internship is mandatory as part of the university training.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more .

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.