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The Position

The RiSE program (Roche Internships for Scientific Exchange) is a highly competitive student research program at Roche. It offers the most talented postgraduate PhD and medical degree students the opportunity to be fully integrated into our interdisciplinary and international industry R&D environment. As a RiSE student you will enhance your competencies, gain valuable work experience with us, and eventually become part of a world-wide network of RiSE Alumni.

The Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area (NRD DTA) is developing medicines for a range of serious neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, spinal muscular atrophy, and Huntington’s disease.

As RiSE student in the NRD DTA you will join our Neuronal Dynamics Lab within the Systems Neuroscience Section at the Roche Innovation Center Basel, Switzerland. You will perform electrophysiological and calcium imaging experiments, implement and use state-of the-art analysis methods to characterize synaptic impairments in motor neuron diseases models. You will be hosted and mentored by a Roche scientist who will guide you through your research and provide you with the needed work infrastructure and collaborative network.

The Opportunity

• conduct laboratory research and work closely within a small team of scientists, postgraduate students and research associates

• perform patch-clamp recordings calcium imaging from neurons, immunohistochemical stainings and standard molecular biology work

• implement and use state-of-the-art analysis methods for time-series data

• present research results during internal 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.

• Enrolled in a PhD or medical degree program at a university and are looking to expand your experience with an industry internship (Graduated PhD students can't be considered for the role. Furthermore, you must be enrolled at university for 50% of the duration of your stay at Roche, PhD thesis can’t be defended in the first half of the internship)

• A strong interest in neurophysiological mechanisms and considerable experience in patch-clamp electrophysiology

• Excellent data analysis and programming capabilities, ideally in python

• Solid understanding of calcium imaging methods and molecular biology

• Previous experience with iPSC-derived cell cultures would be beneficial

Title of the project: Synaptic impairments in iPSC-derived models of motor neuron diseases

The preferred start date of the internship is March 2026 or upon availability.

Applications need to include a CV and a cover letter, as well as a letter from your academic supervisor supporting your application to the RiSE Program.

Please note that due to regulations non-EU/EFTA citizens have to provide a certificate from the university stating that an industry internship is mandatory as part of the university training.

Are you a motivated PhD student passionate about advancing neuroscience research? Apply now to join the RiSE program at Roche Innovation Center Basel and contribute to cutting-edge experiments, data analysis, and collaborative discoveries in motor neuron disease models

#RiSE

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.