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Co-op, Non-Clinical R&D

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.

Somerville, MA, USA

USD 23-28 / hour + Equity

Posted on Sep 27, 2025

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Why Join Us?

Be a hero for our rare disease patients

At Ultragenyx, we fundamentally believe that taking real impactful action to care for the needs of patients and our people is always the right thing to do. To achieve this goal, our vision is to lead the future of rare disease medicine. For us, this means going where other biopharma companies won’t go – challenging the status quo and creating a new model that advances our field so more patients and caregivers can benefit from life-changing treatments. We do this by following the science, applying a novel rapid development approach, making innovative medicines at fair and reasonable prices, and creating a collaborative ecosystem to reach patients in ways that are most meaningful for them.

Our commitment and care for patients extends to our people, so culture is an essential cornerstone for Ultragenyx. We remain continuously focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment of profound learning and growth – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where we would be proud for our family, friends and children to work.

If you want to have a meaningful impact, do the best work of your career, and grow a lot, both professionally and personally, come join our team.

Position Summary:

ultraimpact – Make a difference for those who need it most

Reporting to Associate Director, Gene Therapy Research on Non-Clinical Research team, this individual will help support advancement of innovative AAV-based therapeutics. The candidate will be responsible for assisting in the development and execution of histological assays, image analyses and cell-based experiments, as needed.

Work Model:

Core Lab & Ops: This role typically requires that the majority of the work be conducted on-site and thus will be subject to certain on-site safety protocols during the pandemic.

Responsibilities:

Work as part of a cross-functional team to support advancement of innovative AAV-based therapeutics by performing a variety of histological and cell-based techniques.
Perform standard immunostaining and assist in the development of novel immunostaining methods.
Perform image analyses and assist in the development of novel image analysis workflows.
Provide support for mammalian cell culture and assist in execution of cell-based assays, as needed.
Ability to troubleshoot and contribute to new ideas.
Work both independently and as part of a team.
Demonstrate curiosity and creative desire to answer scientific questions.
Prepare, write, analyze, and present data.

Requirements:

Actively enrolled in pursuing an undergraduate degree in one of the following fields: Cell and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline
Able to commit to a full-time schedule (40 hours/week) during the spring co-op cycle: January 5 – June 26. This role will report in-person five days a week to the Somerville location at 100 Chestnut St. (accessible via the Green Line).
Experience with immunostaining and microscopy preferred, such as immunofluorescence and fluorescent microscopy. Experience with in-situ hybridization, slide scanners or confocal microscopy a plus.
Familiarity with and desire to learn image analyses, experience with HALO or similar image analyses software a plus.
Familiarity with tissue processing techniques, including sectioning from either fixed or frozen tissues.
Familiarity with mammalian cell culture, experience with plasmid transfections and/or viral infections a plus.
Familiarity with biochemical methods, such as qPCR, ELISA, and Western Blot.
Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced, start-up-like environment
Strong collaboration, team-working skills, and communication skills

U.S. Hourly Wage Range:

$23.00-$28.00
The estimated hourly range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual hourly wage offered will depend on the candidate’s school year/level. #LI-AJ1 #LI-Hybrid

Full Time employees across the globe enjoy a range of benefits, including, but not limited to:

· Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company

· Volunteer days

· Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings

· Employee wellbeing benefits

· Fitness reimbursement

· Tuition sponsoring

· Professional development plans

* Benefits vary by region and country

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital and veteran status, and any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for all protected statuses or classifications protected by applicable law, including individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, and based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants can request an accommodation prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, you may contact Talent Acquisition by emailing us at talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com.

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Note to External Recruiters: All candidate activity and open positions are managed strictly through our Human Resources Department. Our Human Resources Department kindly requests that recruiters not contact employees/hiring managers directly in an attempt to solicit business and present candidates. Please note that failure to comply with this request will be a factor in determining a professional relationship with our organization. Submission of unsolicited resumes prior to an agreement set in place between the Human Resources Department and the recruiting agency will not create any implied obligation. Inquiries on developing a recruiting relationship with us, may be directed to: talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com.