Design-Driven Commercialization for Cell & Tissue Therapies

Dimension Bio

Mentors

Cole Johnson, SVP, Corporate Development

Ramille N. Shah, Ph.D, Co-Founder, Head of Platform R&D & Chief Scientific Officer

About Us

Dimension Bio is a Chicago-based biotechnology company developing implantable tissue therapeutics designed to restore organ function in patients with severe disease. The company’s proprietary BioNidum™ cell delivery platform support the survival, organization, and function of therapeutic cells. Dimension Bio’s lead program, DIM-008, combines the BioNidum™ scaffold with hepatocytes to treat severe forms of liver dysfunction. The company’s multidisciplinary team spans biomaterials science, regenerative medicine, and translational development, with the shared mission of building curative, cell-based therapies that integrate seamlessly into the human body.

Externship Description

This externship will focus on applying human factors and translational usability research to inform the design and delivery of Dimension Bio’s tissue-therapeutic implants. The extern will investigate how surgical, ergonomic, and workflow considerations – from product shipment and hospital intake through patient implantation – affect the design constraints of the therapeutic device.

This opportunity sits at the intersection of biomedical innovation, clinical operations, and product design, and is ideal for trainees interested in how complex cell-based therapies transition from the lab bench to clinical delivery.

If you are interested in human-centered design, translational medicine, and real-world deployment of advanced biologic products, this externship will help you develop an understanding of how design, manufacturing, and clinical use converge in the development of next-generation regenerative therapies.

Role of the Extern

The extern will play a key role in synthesizing insights from primary and secondary human factors research to inform early-stage product design. Working closely with Dimension Bio’s cross-functional team, the extern will:

• Conduct literature and market analyses on implantation procedures (e.g., pacemaker, port-a-cath, subcutaneous devices)
• Conduct literature and market analysis of hospital intake procedures for cell, tissue, and organ therapies
• Interview or review data from clinicians, surgical nurses, and biomedical engineers (as applicable) to understand constraints on incision size, pocket size, placement, device shape, flexibility, fixation, etc.
• Map the product handling journey from manufacturing to implantation (storage, transport, OR preparation, patient transfer, and implantation steps)
• Summarize findings and recommendations in a concise Human Factors Design Brief to guide engineering and clinical planning

This externship will interest candidates who want hands-on exposure to biomedical translation, product usability evaluation, and clinical workflow integration within an early-stage biotech environment.

Specific Objectives

Deliverable:
A structured Human Factors Design Brief summarizing evidence-based recommendations for optimal device size, shape, flexibility, delivery approach, and clinical handling parameters to inform product design decisions which could include packaging, instructions, training, etc..

Learning Objectives:

• Develop skills in human factors and usability analysis for translational biomedical devices
• Learn how clinical and operational constraints inform product design in regulated therapeutic settings
• Gain exposure to cross-functional collaboration among scientists, engineers, and strategists in a biotech company

Training & Mentorship:

The extern will receive one-on-one guidance from Dimension Bio mentors and may attend internal design and translational review meetings. Optional sessions with clinical advisors or surgical consultants may be available to deepen understanding of device implantation and handling.

Structure & Commitment:

The externship will be primarily remote with weekly or bi-weekly video check-ins and optional in-person meetings at Dimension Bio’s Chicago headquarters (West Loop). Estimated time commitment: 4–6 hours per week over 8–10 weeks.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have:

• • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage professionally in person, over the phone, or via video conference.
  • Excellent writing and analytical skills, with an ability to synthesize complex scientific or operational topics into clear, concise insights.
  • Genuine enthusiasm for healthcare, entrepreneurship, and/or biotechnology commercialization.
  • Strong work ethic and the ability to work independently while managing deadlines.
  • Experience conducting research on complex or multidisciplinary topics (e.g., market, policy, or technical analyses).
  • Preferred: Experience writing for a non-technical audience (e.g., policy briefs, executive summaries, or science communications).
  • Useful but not required: Background or coursework in business, MBA, finance, or corporate strategy; familiarity with concepts such as cost modeling, market sizing, or corporate financial reporting.