Co-Op, Human Genetics

At Biogen, our mission is clear - we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious psychiatric, neurological, 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 Discovery Genetics group in Genomic Medicine at Biogen focuses on building human genetic evidence for drug target discovery and validation. To achieve this goal, Biogen has made substantial investments in human genetic data resources, external partnerships and collaborations, including the UK Biobank (500,000 participants with genetic, genomic, and disease phenotype data), FinnGen (500,000 Finnish participants with longitudinal health data), and other public and proprietary resources.

Position Description

The Discovery Genetics group is seeking a highly motivated co-op to participate in cross-biobank genetic studies for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

The aims of these studies include:

• QC and curate biobank scale genotype (e.g., genome-wide genotype, exome sequencing, whole-genome sequencing) and phenotype data
• Perform genome-wide association analyses
• Perform post-genome-wide association analysis (e.g., Mendelian randomization, colocalization, fine-mapping, etc.)
• Identify and characterize disease associated genetic loci and genes through literature review and

As a co-op, you will be mentored by a group of experienced statistical geneticists and genetic epidemiologists to work on projects that build human genetic evidence to initiate novel and enhance existing drug development programs on psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as postpartum depression, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson's disease.

You are expected to work on public and Biogen proprietary large-scale biobanks with genetic and genomic data for genetic association analyses and downstream analyses, such as Mendelian randomization, colocalization, and statistical fine mapping. These genetic analyses will help to build up the foundation of the human genetic evidence for Biogen’s therapeutic areas. You will also have opportunities to interact with other functions in Biogen to learn about how Human Genetics can impact the drug development pipeline.

• Experience with data science tools and frameworks (e.g., Python, R, etc.)
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) server/cloud computing is a plus
• Background in Human Genetics
• Background in quantitative/statistical genetics or genetic epidemiology is a plus
• Interest in learning the role of Human Genetics in drug development
• Background in neuroscience is a plus
• Effective teamwork and communication skills

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
• Have a graduation date no earlier than September 2024

Education

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) or M.S. in statistical genetics, epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, genomics, Human Genetics, statistics, computer science, bioinformatics, or other related fields

This role 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.