Research Intern (Downstream Processing) - Marlborough, MA

Sartorius North America; Marlborough (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal and Professional Development

Making an Impact Right from the Start

Welcoming Culture

Intelligent Working Environment

Job summary

Sartorius North America invites applications for a Research Intern position onsite at our Marlborough, MA site. The PhD-level intern will support R&D activities in downstream processing of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and viral vectors, optimizing purification workflows using TFF and chromatography.

This role offers hands-on biologics processing experience and data-driven process development for therapeutic nanoparticles.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with downstream purification workflows (TFF) for nanoparticles or biologics.
• Knowledge of chromatography techniques such as SEC, IEX, or affinity purification.
• Familiarity with extracellular vesicles (EVs) and viral vectors (e.g., AAV, lentivirus).
• Comfortable working in a wet lab with complex biological samples.
• Strong documentation and batch-record practices are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Execute purification protocols for EVs and viral vectors using TFF systems and chromatography modalities.
• Assist in designing and optimizing downstream steps to improve yield, purity, and scalability.
• Operate and maintain TFF and chromatography systems (e.g., AKTA), including setup and cleaning.
• Prepare and process samples following SOPs; quantify particles using NTA, qPCR, protein assays, and RNA analysis.
• Monitor and document key parameters during TFF runs; maintain lab notebooks and process logs.
• Support integration of downstream data with analytical assays (e.g., flow cytometry, SEC‑MALS).
• Collaborate with upstream, analytical, and formulation teams to align on goals and knowledge transfer.
• Follow lab safety protocols and ensure compliance with quality standards.

Skills

TFF systems

Chromatography techniques

EVs purification

Analytical quantification

Lab documentation

Education

PhD candidate in Bioengineering or closely related discipline

Tools

AKTA

NTA

qPCR

HPLC

SEC‑MALS

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and technically skilled intern (PhD level) to support research and development activities in downstream processing of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and viral vectors. The successful candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to optimize and execute purification workflows using tangential flow filtration (TFF) and chromatography-based methods. This internship provides hands‑on experience in biologics processing and analytical evaluation, contributing directly to process development for therapeutic nanoparticles.

Onsite at our Marlborough, MA site,

In the Research Intern role, you will serve as a critical contributor to the development and integration of Sartorius' emerging technologies for characterization and purification of different types of nanoparticles such as extracellular vesicles and viral vectors. These leading‑edge platforms will be utilized in basic research as well as the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

What you will accomplish together with us

• Execute Purification Protocols: Perform purification of EVs and viral vectors using TFF systems (hollow fiber and/or flat sheet) and various chromatography modalities (e.g., ion exchange, size exclusion, affinity).
• Optimize Unit Operations: Assist in the design and optimization of downstream steps to improve product yield, purity, and scalability.
• System Operation and Maintenance: Operate and maintain TFF and chromatography systems (e.g., AKTA or equivalent), including set-up, cleaning, and troubleshooting.
• Sample Handling and Quantification: Prepare and process samples following SOPs. Quantify particles using orthogonal methods such as NTA, qPCR, protein assays, and total RNA analysis.
• Process Monitoring and Data Recording: Monitor and document key parameters (e.g., transmembrane pressure, flux, recovery) during TFF runs. Maintain detailed lab notebooks and process logs.
• Analytical Support: Support integration of downstream data with analytical assays (e.g., flow cytometry, SEC‑MALS, SDS‑PAGE) for process characterization.
• Collaborative Work: Interact regularly with upstream, analytical, and formulation teams to align on process goals and transfer knowledge.
• Safety and Compliance: Follow laboratory safety protocols and ensure compliance with quality standards and experimental reproducibility.

What will convince us

Education

• PhD candidate in Bioengineering, or closely related discipline with formal education and experience with extracellular vesicles characterization and purification.

Experience

• Hands‑on experience with TFF systems (lab or pilot scale) for nanoparticle or biologics concentration and diafiltration.

  Practical knowledge of chromatography techniques such as SEC, IEX, or affinity purification.

  Familiarity with nanoparticle systems such as EVs, viral vectors (e.g., AAV, lentivirus), or LNPs.

  Comfortable working in a wet lab environment with complex biological samples.

  Strong documentation and organizational skills; experience with SOPs and batch records is a plus.

  Experience with analytical tools (e.g., NTA, BCA, qPCR, HPLC, or SEC‑MALS) is highly desirable

• Identification with our core values: Sustainability, Openness, Enjoyment

Compensation is up to $30 hr.

What We Offer

• Personal and Professional Development: Mentoring, leadership programs, internal seminar offerings
• Making an Impact Right from the Start: Comprehensive onboarding, including a virtual online platform
• Welcoming Culture: Mutual support, team spirit and international collaboration; communities on numerous topics such as "Coaching", "Agile Working" and a "Businesswomen's Network"
• Intelligent Working Environment: Working in smart buildings with the latest technology and equipment.

Sartorius is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability (based on status in any other protected group of class).

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by email at [e-mail].

Sartorius is part of the solution in the fight against cancer, dementia, and many other diseases. Our technologies help translate scientific discoveries into real‑world medicine faster, so that new therapeutics can reach patients worldwide.

We look for ambitious team players and creative minds, who want to contribute to this goal and advance their careers in a dynamic global environment.

Join our global team and become part of the solution.