Summer Intern, Innovation Engineering (Process Chemistry & Modeling)

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 Summer Intern,  Innovation Engineering (Process Chemistry & Modeling) will support process development efforts at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals by contributing to studies focused on advancing continuous manufacturing technologies. This internship offers hands-on experience modeling, testing, and evaluating flow reactor chemistry for critical process steps. The intern will work closely with scientists and engineers to generate experimental data and insights that help define and optimize processes supporting future continuous manufacturing platforms.

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.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute experimental plans for flow-based cleavage and deprotection studies.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot small-scale continuous flow reactor systems.
• Collect and analyze reaction samples using HPLC and/or LC-MS to assess performance.
• Evaluate how changes in reaction conditions impact yield, purity, and process efficiency.
• Build and apply predictive or empirical models to support scale-up and guide system design decisions.
• Interpret experimental results and provide data-driven recommendations to inform process optimization and next-phase development.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and documentation.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Foundational understanding of reaction engineering, mass transfer, or analytical chemistry (coursework acceptable).
• Basic laboratory experience, including handling chemicals, operating instrumentation, or performing analytical assays.
• Strong ability to collect, organize, and interpret data with attention to detail.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and willingness to learn new experimental and modeling techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• Previous coursework in reactor design.
• Experience with HPLC or LC-MS.
• Interest in continuous manufacturing, flow chemistry, or process development.
• Prior academic or industry research experience.
• Strong curiosity and motivation to contribute to innovative manufacturing technologies.

Wisconsin pay range {{:}} $9,240 USD - $9,240 USD

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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