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 AAV Process Development Intern will support viral vector research at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals by assisting with the production, purification, and testing of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors used in internal research studies. This internship offers hands-on laboratory experience contributing to both day-to-day operations and focused process improvement projects. The intern will play an active role in improving efficiency and reliability of AAV production while gaining exposure to upstream, downstream, and analytical workflows in a 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
- Assist with upstream AAV production activities, including mammalian cell culture and transfection.
- Support downstream purification processes, such as filtration and chromatography.
- Perform routine analytical assays under supervision, including titering, sample preparation, and basic QC testing.
- Own one or more process development or optimization projects focused on improving AAV production workflows.
- Accurately document experimental procedures and results using electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN).
- Prepare reagents, maintain laboratory organization, and follow established SOPs and safety guidelines.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute to continuous improvement discussions.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled student at an accredited university or college majoring in a Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biotechnology
- Completion of at least one year of undergraduate laboratory coursework.
- Basic understanding of molecular biology and/or cell culture principles.
- Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
- Willingness and ability to spend 75% of the workday walking the facility and 25% at a desk.
Preferred
- Prior hands-on laboratory experience through coursework, internships, or research projects.
- Experience with mammalian cell culture, aseptic technique, or viral vector work.
- Familiarity with chromatography, filtration, or analytical assays (e.g., ELISA, PCR).
- Experience using electronic lab notebooks and basic data analysis tools (Excel or similar).
- Interest in gene therapy, viral vectors, or translational research.
- Interest in laboratory safety, chemical safety, or regulatory compliance.
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.
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What We Do
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage, Nasdaq listed (ticker ARWR) company developing medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, our 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. Our RNAi-based therapeutics are at the leading edge of genetic-based therapy with the potential to bring life changing treatments for patients. Our Targeted RNAi Molecule (TRiMTM) platform utilizes ligand-mediated delivery and is designed to enable tissue-specific targeting while being structurally simple. The TRiM platform builds on more than a decade of work on actively targeted drug delivery and offers several advantages including simplified manufacturing and reduced costs; multiple routes of administration; and potential for improved safety. Our employees are nimble, science-driven, and innovative professionals. A career at Arrowhead offers the opportunity to collaborate with top notch scientists to rapidly discover and develop RNAi-based therapeutics to add to our growing pipeline. Research and development activities are located in Madison, WI. Our R&D group includes fully-integrated capabilities for chemistry, biology, and toxicology. Madison is an exciting and sophisticated city that includes state government, the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin, and major research organizations. Our HQ, clinical and regulatory operations are located in Pasadena, CA. Just north of Los Angeles and resting in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Pasadena is known for its natural scenic beauty, vibrant cultural and academic environment and rich architectural setting.
