Basel: Internship IP2TIS 2025 - For students in the field of Green Peptide Chemistry

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche.

Our  Global Internship Programme in Innovation & Sustainability (#IP2TIS)  offers a unique opportunity for passionate individuals to gain hands-on experience in the pharmaceutical industry while making a positive impact on the world.

Are you ready to join a global network spanning 20+ countries, where bright minds collaborate to tackle real-world challenges in Innovation & Sustainability? Do you want to work on impactful projects, shape the future , and drive change from within?

The Opportunity

Peptide therapeutics are rapidly gaining prominence as a new modality across varied disease areas, particularly in glycemic control and body weight management through long-acting incretins. This progress has sparked a significant demand for high-quality peptide APIs and poses new challenges for manufacturers striving to scale production while implementing sustainable practices.

A key sustainability challenge in peptide manufacturing is the reduction of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are synthetic chemicals notorious for their environmental persistence, resistance to degradation, and potential adverse health effects. Accumulation of these substances in living organisms is of growing ecological concern and legislative initiatives are now underway to prohibit the production and use of this class of compounds in Europe. 

Peptides are conventionally manufactured via solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) whereby amino acids are sequentially coupled to an insoluble carrier polymer until the desired peptide sequence is obtained. Upon completion of SPPS, concentrated trifluoroacetic acid (a common PFAS) is typically used to cleave the crude peptide from the solid support and remove all side chain protecting groups in one step. However, due to environmental and regulatory issues, transitioning to greener alternatives is highly desirable.

In light of our expanding peptide API portfolio, Roche's commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation in pharmaceutical development, the aim of this internship project is to explore PFAS-free alternatives in cleavage of peptides produced through conventional SPPS. Join our team at Roche to contribute to improving the sustainability and safety of future pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• You will conduct a literature review and examine novel PFAS-free cleavage solutions based on reported physicochemical properties and reactivity data 

• You will evaluate, screen and optimize innovative, PFAS-free cleavage conditions with comparison to standard TFA-based solutions

• You will analytically monitor and evaluate the quality of the cleavage reactions using state-of-the-art HPLC/UPLC and MS techniques

• You will summarise your findings for presentation to peers and the broader Roche community

Learning & Growth

• Gain hands-on experience working in a state-of-the-art process development laboratory

• Exposure to cutting-edge science and facilities at a renowned pharmaceutical company

• Final presentations of project work to industry leaders

• Professional & personal development curriculum throughout the program, including networking opportunities, workshops, and panel discussions

• Receive guidance and mentorship from expert scientists

Who You Are

You are enrolled or have completed your Master’s studies at a university, preferably in the fields of Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or Chemical Engineering within the last 12 months and are interested in applying your knowledge in a modern working environment as part of an internship of at least 3 months and getting to know the pharmaceutical industry.

Minimum Required Experience & Qualifications

• You have previous hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry. Prior experience in solid-phase peptide or oligonucleotide synthesis is highly desirable

• You have hands-on experience working with analytical HPLC and MS systems

• You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex scientific questions and challenges

• You show meticulous attention to detail to ensure the accuracy and quality of research outputs

• You are proficient in English, German is a plus

Finally, we are looking for passionate candidates ready to tackle real-world challenges in green chemistry to drive meaningful change. If this opportunity speaks to you, then please consider applying to be part of a team that is committed to sustainability, innovation, and improving global health. Join us and help shape a better future for people worldwide.

If you meet most but not all qualifications, we still encourage you to apply.

Technical details:

The start date for the internship is between 1st and 16th of July 2025

More information about the program you can find on go.roche.com/ip2tis_25.

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Summary

• Location: Basel
• Type: Full time