We are currently recruiting for the following project:
Symptom prioritization for Parkinson’s disease therapy development

Who we are:

BCBA connects academic science trainees and recent graduates to the Bay Area’s biotech industry through hands-on consulting and due diligence projects. We are a volunteer organization composed of PhD students, post-docs, medical trainees, and young professionals looking to gain professional development for jobs in biotech companies, consulting, and venture capital. Over 450 scientists from across the country have participated in BCBA projects and have gone on to internships and full-time positions with leading biotech companies, consulting firms, and venture capitals firms.

Project timeline: Week of July 28^th – Week of November 3rd, 2025

Who you are:

• A graduate/professional student (i.e. PhD, MS, MBA, MD, PharmD), postdoc, or recent graduate
• Enthusiastic about gaining life-science business experience and helping select targets for developing therapies in the neurodegenerative disease space
• Eager to build communication skills through conducting interviews of academic and industry key opinion leaders and presenting findings to the consulting team and client
• Interest or research experience in some of the following categories: Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative disease, market landscaping, product development, funding and investment, symptomatic target evaluation, translational research
• Able to commit 10-15 hours/week as a volunteer

What you will do:

You will work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), a leading nonprofit research organization dedicated to accelerating the development of therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This project focuses on identifying and prioritizing PD-related symptoms with the highest potential for therapeutic development. You will conduct a comprehensive overview of all known PD-associated symptoms, developing and implementing a scoring system to assess each symptom based on relevance, severity, and biological feasibility, and engaging with clinical stakeholders through interviews to validate your assessments. In addition, you will contribute to the development of pitch decks for the prioritized symptoms summarize clinical relevance, existing therapeutic gaps, and proposed development plans.

What you will get:

• Hands-on experience conducting consulting-style research, including market sizing, competitive landscaping, stakeholder interviews, and case study analysis.
• Development of your professional network and communication skills through direct engagement with clients, interviewed stakeholders, teammates, and BCBA leadership.
• The opportunity to collaborate closely with PD industry experts, clinicians, and investors, gaining deep insight into the nonprofit role in therapeutic development.
• An invitation to attend the in-person MJFF workshop at the New York City office in November to present and validate your team’s findings to key stakeholders.
• Reimbursement for meals during team meetings and coverage of accommodation costs for the in-person workshop.

To Apply: Please submit this Google form by Wednesday, July 23^rd  

More information about BCBA can be found here. Please reach out to info@biotechconnectionbay.org if you have any questions!