INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Summer Intern, CMC Oligonucleotide Process Development

CompanyArrowhead Pharmaceuticals
LocationVerona
Work ModeOn Site
PostedJanuary 9, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will support the development and optimization of RNA synthesis processes for therapeutic oligonucleotides, focusing on improving yield and purity. They will perform solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis and learn associated synthetic chemistry techniques.
Internship Type
full time
Company Size
686
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
At Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals we are breaking the mold of medicine. We are pushing the boundaries of therapeutic development and revolutionizing how we care for hard-to-treat illnesses. As a company we harness collaboration and innovation to rapidly advance drugs from discovery to the clinic. All applicants: Please be aware of employment scams using Arrowhead’s name and the names of Arrowhead’s employees. All job related Arrowhead communication should come from the domain @arrowheadpharma.com.
About the Role
<div class="content-intro"><p>Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:&nbsp; 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI &amp; San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI.&nbsp; Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.&nbsp;</p></div><p><strong>The Position</strong></p> <p data-start="577" data-end="1031">&nbsp;</p> <p data-start="452" data-end="914">Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is seeking a highly motivated <strong>CMC </strong><strong data-start="508" data-end="568">Oligonucleotide Process Development Intern</strong> to support the development and optimization of RNA synthesis processes for therapeutic oligonucleotides. This internship will focus on improving the synthesis of oligonucleotides that incorporate <strong data-start="765" data-end="807">custom and proprietary building blocks</strong>, with an emphasis on maximizing yield, improving crude purity, and characterizing and reducing impurities.</p> <p data-start="916" data-end="1208">The intern’s work will directly support the Oligo Process Development and Manufacturing teams by enabling higher-quality materials to be delivered more efficiently, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving the safety profile of drug candidates incorporating these advanced functionalities.</p> <p>This is an 11-week Summer Internship Program paying $21.00 per hour and requires full-time, onsite work five days per week at the designated location.</p> <p><strong><em>Responsibilities</em></strong></p> <ul> <li data-start="1241" data-end="1372">Perform <strong data-start="1249" data-end="1290">solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis</strong> using automated synthesizers and learn associated synthetic chemistry techniques.</li> <li data-start="1241" data-end="1372">Design and execute experiments to optimize key synthesis parameters with the goal of maximizing oligonucleotide yield and purity.</li> <li data-start="1241" data-end="1372">Learn and apply principles of&nbsp;<strong data-start="1537" data-end="1573">oligonucleotide characterization</strong> using <strong data-start="1580" data-end="1610">HPLC and mass spectrometry</strong> to evaluate product quality and impurity profiles.</li> <li data-start="1241" data-end="1372">Conduct chromatographic purification experiments, as needed, to assess impurity removal and process robustness.</li> <li data-start="1241" data-end="1372">Maintain a detailed, accurate laboratory notebook and provide regular progress updates to the project team.</li> <li data-start="1241" data-end="1372">Gain exposure to principles of&nbsp;<strong data-start="1919" data-end="1939">process scale-up</strong> and participate, when appropriate, in technology transfer discussions with the Manufacturing team.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Requirements</strong></p> <ul> <li data-start="2074" data-end="2191">Currently pursuing a degree in <strong data-start="2105" data-end="2190">Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline</strong>.</li> <li data-start="2074" data-end="2191">Completion of&nbsp;<strong data-start="2208" data-end="2303">at least two semesters of college-level organic chemistry lecture and laboratory coursework</strong> by the start of the internship.</li> <li data-start="2074" data-end="2191">Familiarity with standard analytical and characterization techniques, including&nbsp;<strong data-start="2418" data-end="2468">UV/Vis spectrophotometry and mass spectrometry</strong>.</li> <li data-start="2074" data-end="2191">Understanding of basic laboratory safety practices and ability to work safely in a laboratory environment.</li> <li data-start="2074" data-end="2191">Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.</li> <li data-start="2074" data-end="2191">Strong verbal and written communication skills.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred</strong></p> <ul> <li data-start="2715" data-end="2773">Undergraduate research experience in a laboratory setting.</li> <li data-start="2715" data-end="2773">Prior experience with&nbsp;<strong data-start="2798" data-end="2823">solid-phase synthesis</strong>.</li> <li data-start="2715" data-end="2773">Coursework in&nbsp;<strong data-start="2841" data-end="2865">analytical chemistry</strong>.</li> <li data-start="2715" data-end="2773">Hands-on experience with analytical techniques such as&nbsp;<strong data-start="2924" data-end="2932">HPLC</strong></li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Wisconsin pay range </div><div class="pay-range"><span>$9,240</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$9,240 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p>Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://arrowheadpharma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Arrowhead-California-Applicant-Privacy-Policy.pdf" target="_blank">California Applicant Privacy Policy</a></p></div>
Key Skills
Oligonucleotide SynthesisSynthetic ChemistryHPLCMass SpectrometryChromatographic PurificationLaboratory SafetyCritical ThinkingProblem SolvingVerbal CommunicationWritten Communication
Categories
Science & ResearchHealthcareEngineering