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Biogen’s two-year PhD fellowship in Worldwide Medical (WWM) provides recent doctoral graduates a hands-on opportunity to learn the ins and outs of Medical Affairs and the pharmaceutical industry within the walls of a cutting-edge biotech as an accelerated and practical introduction to a career in medical affairs.
Fellowship Overview
In year one, fellows will explore the different functional areas within Worldwide Medical through a series of four, 3-month long rotational experiences. Fellows will also have the opportunity to select one rotation outside of medical to foster a broader understanding of our cross-functional partners and how their functions collaborate with medical and fit into the greater organization.
In the second year, fellows will pick an area of concentration within Worldwide Medical to prepare them for a continued career in the biopharmaceutical industry. View additional detail on the structure of the fellowship in the FAQ.
“
The Worldwide Medical PhD fellowship at Biogen is a unique opportunity for motivated graduates looking to apply their skills outside of the lab—one I wish had existed when I was completing my studies. On behalf of myself and Biogen, I’m thrilled that we can now offer this exciting alternative career path into the biopharmaceutical industry.
”
— Fellowship Director, Ramon Iovin, PhD
What is Medical Affairs?
At Biogen, the mission of Worldwide Medical is to inform real-world medical practice and to improve patient outcomes by generating and delivering clear, timely and clinically relevant information. Worldwide Medical is responsible for providing patients, healthcare professionals, regulatory agencies, and other key stakeholders with the latest scientific evidence on Biogen therapies. To that end, the function leads a number of activities including:
designing and conducting post-approval clinical studies and real-world data generation efforts
managing scientific publications and creating supporting medical communications materials to foster scientific exchange
planning and oversight of Biogen’s presence at scientific conferences
addressing product-related questions from patients and healthcare providers (HCPs)
cultivating relationships and scientific exchange with key medical experts
providing medical education to both internal and external audiences, including field medical teams and healthcare providers
How to Apply
The fellowship enrolls a new cohort annually in June. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to WWMfellowship@biogen.com by March 31 with “PhD Fellowship Application” in the subject line.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are you looking for in fellowship applicants?
Enrolled in a doctoral program in the biological or physical sciences with plans to defend prior to the mid-July start date.
Interest in a potential career in industry and a fast-paced work environment
Talent in relationship-building and working collaboratively.
Aptitude for gathering, interpreting, and communicating complex, scientific information.
Strong organizational, project management and execution skills.
Recent PhD graduates as well as current postdoctoral fellows are welcome to apply for the fellowship. International students are also eligible to apply for the program.
3. Can the program sponsor my visa?
Unfortunately, the fellowship is unable to sponsor visas. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States of America for the entire length of the 2-year fellowship.
4. What does the application process look like after I submit my resume and cover letter?
After the application deadline, a subset of applicants will be contacted for phone interviews. Subsequently, a subset of these applicants will be invited for final-round interviews, which involve speaking with Biogen Worldwide Medical employees and giving a brief research talk. Offers will be made in late spring / early summer. New fellows start annually in mid-July.
5. By when must I have defended my thesis?
All candidates should have successfully defended prior to the mid-July start date. Rare exceptions may be made for defense dates that are near the date of enrollment.
A yearlong immersive experience among the year one core medical rotation options
7. Is the fellowship paid?
Yes, the fellowship is a paid position, with an annual salary and benefits.
8. Where is the fellowship based?
The fellowship is based at Biogen’s Global Headquarters located in Cambridge, MA, USA.
9. How are the rotations selected?
The program director(s) will provide fellows guidance on available rotation opportunities and supervisors. Final selections will be made based on a mutual interest on the part of the fellow and supervisor as well as business needs.
10. What is the day-to-day experience in the fellowship?
Fellows are full members of the global medical affairs organization. They contribute to the breadth of business-critical projects and workstreams for which their teams are responsible.
11. What are the employment prospects for fellows?
Graduating fellows are uniquely attractive to prospective employers and have matriculated to a variety of medical affairs and other roles within the industry. The program has a high internal retention rate, with many fellows transitioning directly to full-time positions at Biogen.
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