What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2025 Co-Op, Protein Design position at BioSpace?
The Role
Moderna is seeking a highly motivated Co-op to join the Protein Design team at our Cambridge, MA site. In this role, you will support protein production for the Infectious Diseases and Therapeutic Areas, contributing to the development of different programs. Your responsibilities will include expressing, purifying, and characterizing recombinant proteins using bacterial and mammalian cell culture systems, applying chromatographic techniques for protein purification, and performing biochemical analyses to assess protein quality. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to explore and optimize expression and purification strategies for challenging targets. This role requires strong attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality recombinant proteins to support research efforts.
All candidates must be available for the full duration of the program. This program will run from Monday, July 21st and end Friday, December 12th, 2025.
Here’s What You’ll Do
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, theinfrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.
By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our peopleare the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute and make a meaningful impact.
If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free work environment.
Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!
Moderna is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.
Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
Belonging, Inclusion, and Diversity are critical to the success of our company and our impact on society. We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees and believe that by cultivating diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we can provide an environment where every employee is able to contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. (EEO/AAP Employer)
Moderna is seeking a highly motivated Co-op to join the Protein Design team at our Cambridge, MA site. In this role, you will support protein production for the Infectious Diseases and Therapeutic Areas, contributing to the development of different programs. Your responsibilities will include expressing, purifying, and characterizing recombinant proteins using bacterial and mammalian cell culture systems, applying chromatographic techniques for protein purification, and performing biochemical analyses to assess protein quality. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to explore and optimize expression and purification strategies for challenging targets. This role requires strong attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality recombinant proteins to support research efforts.
All candidates must be available for the full duration of the program. This program will run from Monday, July 21st and end Friday, December 12th, 2025.
Here’s What You’ll Do
- Express recombinant proteins primarily in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells, with occasional use of other hosts.
- Purify proteins using chromatography-based methods, including affinity, ion exchange, and size-exclusion chromatography, leveraging FPLC systems for semi-automated workflows.
- Optimize expression and purification conditions to enhance yield and quality.
- Characterize proteins using SDS-PAGE, Western blot, thermal shift assays, activity assays, and Octet binding assays.
- Communicate project objectives, timelines, progress, and results effectively across cross-functional teams.
- Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings in group, project, and department meetings.
- Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Molecular biology or related discipline, or Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Molecular biology or related discipline
- Co-op/intern industry experience in protein biochemistry laboratory preferred
- Experience with bacterial or mammalian cell culture techniques
- Experience using standard methods to express and purify recombinant proteins
- Experience in biochemical characterization of proteins (e.g., SDS-PAGE, analytical SEC, western blot, thermal melt)
- Ability to participate in multiple collaborative projects in a cross-functional team environment
- Strong quantitative analysis skills
- Excellent written and oral communication
- A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.
- Free premium access to meditation and mindfulness classes
- Free parking or subsidized commuter passes
- Generous paid time off, including:
- Vacation, sick time and holidays
- Volunteer time to participate within your community
- Discretionary year-end shutdown
- Location-specific perks and extras!
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, theinfrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.
By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our peopleare the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute and make a meaningful impact.
If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free work environment.
Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!
Moderna is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.
Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
Belonging, Inclusion, and Diversity are critical to the success of our company and our impact on society. We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees and believe that by cultivating diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we can provide an environment where every employee is able to contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. (EEO/AAP Employer)
