Co-op - Cell Production (Organ Manufacturing Group)

United Therapeutics Corporation•Manchester, NH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR) is a public benefit corporation focused on developing novel pharmaceutical therapies and technologies to expand the availability of transplantable organs. The company has developed six FDA-approved therapies for conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), and neuroblastoma. Their current pipeline aims to develop treatments for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Recognizing the organ shortage crisis, United Therapeutics is also working on creating manufactured organs (kidneys, hearts, lungs, and livers) to eliminate transplant waiting lists and cure end-stage organ diseases. This co-op role is an educational position requiring hands-on work with the Cell Production team to culture, expand, and differentiate iPSC-derived lung cell populations for lab-grown organs. The co-op will involve running bioreactors, optimizing media, assessing cell quality, and contributing to real R&D programs. The selected co-op will be onsite at the Manchester, NH office for the entire duration of the role.

Requirements

Candidates must be at least a rising undergraduate junior and actively enrolled student in an academic program for the duration of the assignment; pursuing a BA/BS, MA/MS, or PhD degree in Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline.
Candidates must be receptive to learning, inquisitive, and self-motivated.
Knowledge of basic cell culture and cellular/molecular assays.
Confident track record of antibiotic-free cell culture.
Experience working in a hands-on lab environment.
Strong attention to detail and experience following experimental methods and protocols.
Ability to retain sufficient records and keep electronic lab notebook records to the level of reproducibility.
Ability to communicate and collaborate cross-functionally, and utilize internal and external resources to resolve issues in creative, efficient, and effective ways.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of basic flow cytometry is desired.
Actively enrolled student in a Master’s or PhD degree program in Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Biology or related discipline.
Experience working with stem cell differentiation, media formulation and basic flow cytometry.

Responsibilities

Perform routine iPSC culture, expansion, and differentiation in 2D monolayer and 3D suspension formats (bioreactors), including microcarrier- and aggregate-based systems.
Perform media formulation activities, including small-scale optimization, bulk media preparation, and documentation.
Assist with setup, operation, sampling, and maintenance of bioreactor systems, supporting scale-up and process optimization activities.
Develop methods for differentiation of Lung cell populations from iPSCs under direct/indirect supervision, focusing on Lung Progenitors, Airway Basal Cells, and Lung Endothelial Cells differentiations.
Assess cell differentiation and quality using cell imaging, cell counting, viability assays, and flow cytometry–based readouts.
Provide hands-on support for established QC and in-process testing to enable continued process development of in-house iPSC-derived cell products.
Generate comprehensive protocols and experimental documentation for cell culture, differentiation, and analytical workflows.
Assist with routine laboratory activities including equipment setup, reagent preparation, sample tracking, and data recording in alignment with R&D and PD best practices.
Communicate cross-functionally with members of the Organ Manufacturing Group and other company functions as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.