Internship - ADC modeling (m/f/d)

Merck Healthcare; Corsier-sur-Vevey; On-site; CHF 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Healthcare in Switzerland invites students to join a 6-month internship starting 1 January 2027 in Corsier-sur-Vevey. You will develop a hybrid soft sensor using UV-Vis spectroscopy, build kinetic models with gPROMS or Python, and apply Extended Kalman Filter to fuse data and predictions.

The role focuses on modelling, data analysis, and documenting results, with collaboration across PAT and process experts.

Qualifications

• Currently in master’s or Engineering student in data science, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering or a related field.
• Strong interest in reaction kinetics, mechanistic modelling, dynamic systems, and data science.
• Experience with python and gPROMS or another process modelling tool is a strong plus.
• Interest in spectroscopy and chemometrics; knowledge of UV-Vis or PLS is an advantage.
• Practical laboratory experience and strong attention to data quality and reproducibility.
• Knowledge of Kalman filtering is a plus.
• Curious, rigorous, proactive, and able to work independently as well as in a multidisciplinary team.
• Fluent in English

Responsibilities

• Support development and evaluation of the UV-Vis-based soft sensor, including data preprocessing and chemometric data treatment.
• Develop kinetic reaction models using gPROMS and/or Python to describe the evolution of the conjugation species; compare models and estimate parameters.
• Validate the kinetic model against independent data; combine model with soft sensor data using an Extended Kalman Filter.
• Evaluate model performance, robustness and limitations; identify data gaps and plan experiments.
• Plan and execute experiments in collaboration with PAT, modelling and process experts; ensure traceability of results.
• Develop Python-based tools for data preparation, visualization, and analysis; present results at project reviews and final report.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Chemometrics

Spectroscopy

Kalman filtering

Process modelling

English fluency

gPROMS

Education

Master's or Engineering student in data science or related field

Tools

gPROMS

Python

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you've got big plans - so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich peoples lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

Start Date: 1st January 2027

Duration: 6 months

Localisation: Corsier-sur-Vevey

Role Level: Internship

Conjugation of monoclonal antibody with a drug linker is a critical step in the development of antibody-drug bioconjugates. Today, offline analytical methods provide detailed information on the reaction, but they are time-consuming and don't enable continuous process monitoring. The objective of this project is to develop a proof of concept for a hybrid soft sensor combining UV-Vis spectroscopy to provide fast, information-rich process measurements; a kinetic reaction model to describe the evolution of the conjugation species; an Extended Kalman Filter to combine measurements and model predictions while accounting for their respective uncertainties. The internship will focus primarily on modelling and data analysis, with experimental work performed when needed to support the project.

Your Role

• Support the development and evaluation of the UV-Vis-based soft sensor, including data preprocessing and chemometric data treatment.
• Develop kinetic reaction models using gPROMS and/or Python to describe the evolution of the conjugation species.Compare different kinetic model structures, estimate kinetic parameters, and assess the predictive performance.
• Validate the kinetic model against independent experimental or offline analytical data where available.Combine kinetic model with the soft sensor data using an Extended Kalman Filter.
• Evaluate the ability of the hybrid model to update the estimated reaction state and predict the reaction progress.Identify data gaps and, if required, design and perform additional small-scale conjugation experiments.
• Analyze model performance, robustness and limitations.
• Plan and execute experiments in collaboration with PAT, modelling and process experts.Ensure that experimental conditions and results are accurately recorded and traceable.
• Develop Python-based tools for data preparation, visualization, and analysis.Present your results during project reviews and prepare a final technical report.

Your Profil

• Currently in master’s or Engineering student in data science, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering or a related field.
• Strong interest in reaction kinetics, mechanistic modelling, dynamic systems, and data science.
• Experience with python and gPROMS or another process modelling tool is a strong plus.
• Interest in spectroscopy and chemometrics; knowledge of UV-Vis or PLS is an advantage.
• Practical laboratory experience and strong attention to data quality and reproducibility.
• Knowledge of Kalman filtering is a plus.
• Curious, rigorous, proactive, and able to work independently as well as in a multidisciplinary team.
• Fluent in English

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!