Master Thesis Student Internship in Investigative Toxicology (6 months)

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated M.Sc. student to join the Mechanistic Safety team within Pharmaceutical Sciences. Our team consists of scientists working in the field of in vitro investigative toxicology. We develop advanced, predictive, cell-based models to identify mechanisms that may lead to unwanted side effects of new drugs. We support Research and Development projects with meaningful, customized assays to support compound transition and development, and to reduce the risk of attrition in vivo.

Position:

The successful candidate will conduct his/her M.Sc. project in our dynamic team and work on the characterization of the immune competent cells of the liver (= Kupffer cells) from normal and inflamed liver tissue and comparison to in vitro phenotypes. During the internship your tasks will include:

·  learn how to culture Kupffer cells and macrophages and differentiate into different subtypes.
·  select antibodies or in situ hybridization probes to characterize the Kupffer cells and their activation status based on surface antigen expression and gene expression markers as well as cytokine/chemokine release.
·  apply biomarkes for the evaluation of Kupffer cell phenotypes under various in vitro co-culture conditions and compare to in vivo phenotypes.
·  apply biomarkes for the evaluation of Kupffer cell phenotypes in ex vivo tissue samples
·  assess the impact of different Kupffer cell activation status on important liver functions in Hepatocyte:Kupffer cell co-culture models.
·  perform data analysis and interpretation, and present at team meetings.

·  Who you are

You're someone who wants to influence your own development. You're looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests across functions and geographies. Where a job title is not considered the final definition of who you are, but the starting point.

·  You are a university M.Sc. student who is looking to conduct a challenging Master thesis internship in a professional environment. You are highly motivated, interested in working in a multidisciplinary and multinational environment, and you have already gained some laboratory experience in the field of cell biology.

Your qualifications include but are not limited to the following:

·  Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, pharmacology or a related field and you are currently enrolled in a Master program at a university.
·  Experience in immunohistochemistry and (fluorescence) microscopy, for instance from previous internship experiences and/or your bachelor project, are highly preferred.
·  Laboratory and bioanalytical skills including sterile cell culture, media preparations, pipetting skills, cell-based assays, qPCR, compound dosing and ELISA techniques are preferred.
·  Experienced in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point
·  Ability to apply analytical skills and judgment in assessing the quality of assay data and assay performance
·  Self-motivated and focused, able to multi-task, and meet timelines efficiently and productively
·  Fluent in English and/or German

The preferred start date of the internship is September 2016 or upon availability.

Applications need to include a CV and a cover letter.

Due to regulations non-EU/EFTA citizens must provide a certificate from the university stating that an internship is mandatory as part of the application documents.

·  Who we are

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 8,500 people from approximately 90 countries work in Basel, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more .

Roche is an equal opportunity employer.