Intern, Skeletal Cell Biology Research

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 33,062 - 37,195; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid hourly wage

Company holidays

On-site gym

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. is offering a Summer Internship Program in San Rafael, California, providing students valuable industry experience. Interns will engage in significant projects while gaining insights into the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

The role involves developing innovative therapies for rare genetic conditions, particularly within mammalian cell culture, and entails responsibilities like creating reporter cell lines and analyzing RNA quality.

Interns are required to be enrolled in a scientific degree program and available full-time, brimming with opportunities for professional development and hands-on learning.

Qualifications

• Must be a full-time undergraduate student in their 3rd or 4th year.
• Experience with laboratory techniques desired.
• Must be able to work full-time, 40 hours a week.

Responsibilities

• Develop reporter cell lines for gene regulation monitoring.
• Incorporate genetic variants for RNA studies.
• Evaluate RNA quality-control mechanisms.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

RNA biology

Organizational skills

Data analysis

Education

Undergraduate degree in a scientific discipline

Tools

qPCR

Western blot

ELISA

Statistical software

Job description

Who We Are

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that relentlessly pursues bold science to translate genetic discoveries into new medicines that advance the future of human health.

Since our founding in 1997, we have applied our scientific expertise in understanding the underlying causes of genetic conditions to create transformative medicines, using a number of treatment modalities.

Using our unparalleled expertise in genetics and molecular biology, we develop medicines for patients with significant unmet medical need. We enlist the best of the best – people with the right technical expertise and a relentless drive to solve real problems – and create an environment that empowers our teams to pursue bold, innovative science. With this distinctive approach to drug discovery, we’ve produced a diverse pipeline of commercial, clinical and preclinical candidates that have well‑understood biology and provide an opportunity to be first‑to‑market or offer a substantial benefit over existing therapeutic options.

About Worldwide Research and Development

From research and discovery to post‑market clinical development, our WWRD engine involves all bench and clinical research and the associated groups that support those endeavors. Our teams work on developing first‑in‑class and best‑in‑class therapeutics that provide meaningful advances to patients who live with genetic diseases.

SUMMARY

The BioMarin Summer Internship Program will enable students to gain valuable experience and knowledge of the processes and systems within BioMarin, while gaining an insight into the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Over the course of 10–12 weeks our interns gain industry experience while working alongside our talented team on meaningful projects.

BioMarin's Research and Early Development (RED) team focuses on discovering and advancing innovative therapies for rare genetic conditions. We work across multiple scientific disciplines to translate early research into potential treatments that can make a meaningful impact for patients.

The Skeletal Therapeutic Area is dedicated to developing therapies aimed at improving outcomes for individuals with skeletal conditions. Interns will gain exposure to research techniques, contribute meaningful work to support active research programs, and learn how early‑stage drug development happens in a collaborative environment.

JOB DESCRIPTION/PROJECT

Develop reporter cell lines to monitor gene regulation in response to treatments that alter signaling pathways. Incorporate clinically relevant genetic variants into these models to study their impact on RNA processing and stability, including evaluation of cellular RNA quality‑control mechanisms.

Required Skills

• Hands‑on experience working in a mammalian cell culture lab, including aseptic techniques
• Basic understanding of RNA biology
• Ability to follow protocols and standard operating procedures with precision
• Strong organizational skills and commitment to accurate record‑keeping
• A proactive, collaborative attitude with a willingness to learn new scientific techniques

Desired Skills

• Experience with qPCR or ddPCR for gene expression analysis
• Familiarity with Western blot or ELISA for protein‑level studies
• Ability to analyze and visualize data using graphing or statistical software

Qualifications/Eligibility

• Undergraduate student in their 3rd or 4th year pursuing a degree in a scientific discipline.
• Must be returning to school in the Fall Term OR has graduated within the 1 year of the start of the program.
• Must be available to work full time, 40 hours a week.
• Must be currently enrolled as a full‑time student at an accredited U.S. based university or college and enrolled in the fall term after the completion of the internship OR have graduated within 1 year of the start of the program.
• Must be able to relocate if necessary and work at the designated site for the duration of the internship for on‑site, hybrid roles.

Benefits of a BioMarin Internship

• Paid hourly wage, paid company holidays, and sick time
• Apply skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to on‑the‑job experiences
• Comprehensive, value‑added project(s)
• Develop skills specific to your major.
• Opportunities for professional development by building relationships and learning about other parts of the business.
• Participate in company all hands meetings, monthly community lunches
• Corporate office amenities such as: 24/7 on‑site gym, coffee truck, snacks
• Access to Employee Resource Groups

Note: This description is not intended to be all‑inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

In the U.S., the salary range for this position is $24 to $27 per hour, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.