Flagship Labs 116: Protein Chemistry Co-Op

This position is open exclusively to current Northeastern University Co-Op students.

Work Period: January 2027 to June 2027. This is a full - time, 40 hours per week position with 5 days in office. 

About the Company

What if you could synthesize custom biomolecules on a bench-top, at the push of a button?
FL116 is an early stage stealth biotechnology company developing breakthrough biochemistry to design and build custom biological molecules.

About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Labs 116 is a product of Flagship Pioneering's venture creation engine that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the company’s Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

Flagship Pioneering Co-Op Program

Welcome to Flagship Pioneering Co-Op Program for the cohort dreaming big and taking courageous leaps. You'll join fellow peers across our ecosystem of companies and learning firsthand how we build first-in-category companies. You’ll have access to enrichment sessions, a dedicated professional development track, and a mentor that help guide you toward your next step. By the end, you will carry on a meaningful project outcome, a genuine network, and a front-row view of how Flagship pioneer new ventures that change the world.

About the Role 

We’re looking for a curious, motivated coop student to join our Chemical Biology team and contribute directly to our core polymer-synthesis platform.

In this role, you’ll learn about the chemistry of biomolecules and proteins while developing your skills as a professional scientist. This position is ideal for biologists eager to deepen their understanding of the chemistry of life—or chemists excited to see their work come alive in biological systems.

Responsibilities

• Characterize the behavior of novel proteins that synthesize polymers
• Get hands-on with our prototype device to synthesize new biological materials
• Design and execute statistically guided experiments to improve our polymer synthesis cycle
• Analyze and purify biological molecules with liquid chromatography systems
• Share results and insights with a closeknit startup team
• Draft and maintain protocols, SOPs, and Benchling documentation

Why This Role Matters

FL116’s Chemical Biology team helps drive the company’s foundational research and process development. A successful co-op will contribute to one or both work streams depending on their interests and background. As a coop, you’ll contribute to experiments that directly enable the synthesis of larger and more complex biomolecules—opening new routes and capabilities for the platform.

Because we’re an early stage startup, your work won’t disappear into a black box. You’ll see the real impact of your contributions and gain firsthand exposure to how scientific decisions shape company direction.

Team & Collaboration

We’re a small, collaborative group, and coops work closely with scientists across functions. You’ll have ownership, mentorship, and visibility, all while seeing your work directly influence our progress.

Required Skillset:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field
• Strong curiosity and a desire learn.  You aren’t satisfied to know that biology works without understanding why it works.
• Critical thinking and proactive problem solving skills
• Prior wet-lab experience (pipetting, gels) is preferred
• Strong organization and attention to detail

Your exact academic background (e.g. chemist, biologist) matters less than your enthusiasm to learn and help develop new science.

What We Offer

• Build alongside founders. You’ll work inside the same hypothesis-driven process Flagship uses to conceive and launch first-in-category companies.
• This can be the start of a longer story. Strong co-ops are considered for future opportunities across Flagship and its portfolio companies, not just for this one role.
• Work alongside people who left the safe path. Your colleagues are scientists, engineers, and operators who chose to build something new rather than join something already established.
• Take on real ownership. You're contributing to ventures that are still being defined. Your work can shape real decisions, not just support them.
• Be paid like the contributor you are. Compensation reflects the real work you take on.

Flagship Pioneering is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

The pay range for this role is $25 - $35 per hour. This role is a short-term engagement that is not eligible for health and welfare benefits. Retirement benefits may be available after completing a set number of hours. Compensation and benefits information is based on FL116's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact [email protected].