Flagship Labs 116: Protein Chemistry Co-Op

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.