Coop - Computational Lab

California, US residents click here.

The job details are as follows:

What We Do

We build on the strength of our research and development expertise and a distinctive, entrepreneurial culture that encourages diversity, innovation, creativity, sustainability, and, simply, fun. Since inception, our mission has been to find a cure for pulmonary arterial hypertension and other life-threatening diseases. Toward this goal we have successfully gained FDA approval for five medicines, we are always conducting new clinical trials, and we are working to create an unlimited supply of manufactured organs for transplantation.

We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation (PBC). Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through (a) the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and (b) technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs. At the same time, we seek to provide our shareholders with superior financial performance and our communities with earth-sensitive energy utilization.

Our company was founded by an entrepreneur whose daughter was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. She sought to find treatment options and a cure for her daughter and patients like her. We are founder-led, and relentless in our pursuit of “medicines for life”. We continue to research and develop treatments for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and other orphan diseases.

How You’ll Contribute

UT's computational systems biology lab in Silver Spring, MD is building an in-silico model of the lung to support drug development. In this role as a Spring 2024 Co-op, you will assist in the development and implementation of mathematical models of molecular and physiological processes that regulate lung diseases and drug response.

• Conduct research on mathematical modeling approaches to add new features to the in-silico lung model; evaluate suitability for addressing research questions and feasibility of implementation
• Identify data in the literature and public repositories suitable for training and validating mathematical models
• Implement mathematical models by developing well-documented code using version control systems
• Present plans and results regularly to members of the computational lab and other scientists within the company
  
  
  

Example projects could include:

• Simulate the complex interplay between lung tissue mechanics and fluid dynamics (either air or blood), with a focus on how mechanical alterations due to disease conditions can affect clinical measurements related to hemodynamics and pulmonary function testing
• Apply statistical / machine learning approaches to analyze large-scale molecular data (transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.) to derive insights into lung function and drug response
• Generate mechanistic ODE-based models of signaling pathways relevant to lung physiology and drug response, and apply quantitative systems pharmacology approaches to assist with clinical development objectives
• Apply agent-based modeling to represent behavior of cell populations on tissue engineered scaffolds
  
  
  

Minimum qualifications:

• Candidates are expected to be actively enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in a science/engineering discipline
• Available to work 40 hours/week onsite (4 days a week onsite in office, 1 day WFH) in Silver Spring, MD for the duration of the co-op
• Experience with implementation of modeling and simulation (either PDE-based fluid dynamics, ODE-based signaling models, or agent-based modeling) or bioinformatics / machine learning skills (project-dependent)
• Highly self-motivated
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Proficiency in at least one of the following: R, Python, Julia, Matlab, or other programming language
  
  
  

At United Therapeutics, you’ll realize quickly that it is not an ordinary place to work! When you join our company, you will learn, grow, contribute, have fun, and be challenged... all while making a difference in the lives of our patients.

Eligible employees may participate in the Company’s comprehensive benefits suite of programs, including medical / dental / vision / prescription coverage, employee wellness resources, savings plans (401k and ESPP), paid time off & paid parental leave benefits, disability benefits, and more. For additional information on Company benefits, please visit https://www.unither.com/careers/benefits-and-amenities

While United Therapeutics does not require vaccination for Covid-19 at this time, we strongly encourage all employees and visitors to remain up to date on vaccinations and boosters to protect one another from illness. Employees working in customer-facing roles must adhere and comply with customers’ credentialing guidelines, which may require vaccination against Covid -19, the influenza virus, and other illnesses that could be harmful to healthcare staff and patients.

United Therapeutics Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - EOE Minorities / Females / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities