2027 Future Talent Program – Biocatalysis - Co-op

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 40,000 - 111,000; Part time

Job summary

MSD Malaysia’s Research Division offers a Future Talent Co-op program in the Biocatalysis group. The four- to six-month program will include biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, microfluidics, and fermentation projects to advance drug-like molecules.

You’ll contribute to enzyme‑catalyzed reactions and novel proteins in a lab setting with scientists. You will gain experience in HPLC, NMR, MS, PCR, and data analysis using Python or MATLAB while recording results in electronic notebooks with safe

Qualifications

• Must be a currently enrolled sophomore, junior, or senior student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering or Material Science; OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a Master's or Ph. D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering or Material Science.
• Must have completed at least two years of study toward a bachelor’s degree by June 2027.
• Must be available to work full-time for approximately 4-6 months beginning in May 2027.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Sponsorship from the company is not available for this role.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development of biocatalysts, enzyme engineering, microfluidics, and fermentation projects.
• Solve key challenges in biocatalysis, protein engineering, and platform development.
• Operate in chemistry and biology labs with proper safety and notebook discipline.
• Present research results orally and in writing.
• Assist with laboratory automation, data science, and informatics tasks.

Skills

Organic chemistry

Enzymology

Protein design

Directed evolution

Chemical engineering

Bioengineering

High throughput screening

Python

MATLAB

Education

Chemistry

Biochemistry

Biological Sciences

Chemical Engineering

Bioengineering

Material Science

Tools

HPLC

NMR

MS

PCR

Python

MATLAB

Job description

The Future Talent Program features cooperative (co-op) education that lasts 4-6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

The Biocatalysis group within the Small Molecule Process Research & Development Department at our company is seeking motivated candidates to contribute to the invention, development, and innovative implementation of biocatalysts to advance the company pipeline and impact on the scientific community.

The candidates will work alongside company scientists in a laboratory environment to impact our drug discovery, development, and manufacture in the following key areas: biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, microfluidics, and fermentation.

The role will involve the development of novel approaches, novel proteins, and enzyme-catalyzed reactions to enable access to biologically active compounds and chemical reactions relevant to the synthesis of drug-like molecules.

Day-to-day research for the co-op will focus on solving key challenges in:

• biocatalysis, which is the development of novel enzymatic transformations and expansion of the biocatalytic toolbox to solve complex chemistry problems,
• protein engineering, which is the design and engineering of proteins with novel functions,
• microfluidics, screening and platform development including laboratory automation, data science, modeling and informatics,
• fermentation, designing and executing improved methods to ensure robust enzyme production, and more!

Candidates will leverage their chemistry, biology, engineering and/or analytical expertise to solve complex technical problems while working in both chemistry and biology laboratory spaces.

The co-op will provide an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge on how the company's Research Labs develops and uses technologies to progress medicines and vaccines.

Co-ops will participate in departmental and project team meetings to provide a broad perspective on the drug discovery or development process in the pharmaceutical industry.

Co-ops will also gain skillsets via exposure to practical aspects and day-to-day problems of pharmaceutical research.

Co-ops will be responsible for and trained in methods for accurate electronic notebook recording and safe laboratory practices.

In addition, they will have an opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats.

Please note when applying for this position, if the candidate is selected for an interview, the applicant must be prepared to submit letters of recommendation and a brief research statement and a copy of transcripts.

Required Education & Experience:

• Must be a currently enrolled sophomore, junior, or senior student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering or Material Science; OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a Master's or Ph. D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering or Material Science.
• Must have completed at least two years of study toward a bachelor’s degree by June 2027.
• Must be available to work full-time for approximately 4-6 months beginning in May 2027.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Sponsorship from the company is not available for this role.

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Significant interest in organic chemistry, enzymology, protein design, directed evolution, chemical engineering or bioengineering, and/or high throughput screening.
• Molecular biology, synthetic biology, and materials science and engineering are also relevant disciplines.
• Basic laboratory skills and research experience such as the use of lab notebook recording and safe lab practices.
• Experience and/or exposure to chemistry laboratory set-up techniques for multiple unit operations, including but not limited to reactions, workups (including liquid-liquid extraction), use of vacuum evaporation devices, and multiple purification techniques such as thin-layer chromatography, flash chromatography, crystallization, and precipitation.
• Experience and/or exposure to the use of analytical techniques and data interpretation such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and spectrophotometric techniques.
• Experience and/or exposure to fermentation process development, including both upstream and downstream unit operations.
• Experience and/or exposure to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, biochemical assays, and data analysis.
• Experience and/or exposure to programming languages including Python or MATLAB and (structural) data visualization tools.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher (preferred).

Salary Range:

The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111 FTP2027 RL2027.

Employment Details:

• Employee Status: Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: No Travel Required
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): n/a
• Job Posting End Date: 10/19/2026

Equal Employment Opportunity Statements:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement.

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds.

The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment.

We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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San Francisco Residents Only:

We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Los Angeles Residents Only:

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products.

The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century.

Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.