2027 Future Talent Program - Data Science - Intern

MSD Malaysia; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking a data science student for the Future Talent Program internship in our Research and Development Division.

The role involves applying statistical analysis and building data pipelines to support drug discovery across therapeutic areas, collaborating with experienced scientists. The internship lasts up to 12 weeks with full-time hours starting May or June 2027, offering exposure to SQL, Python/R, cloud data warehouses, and machine learning methods to drive real projects

Qualifications

• Pursuing BS/BA in Data Science/CS with substantial computational coursework.
• Available to work full-time for 10–12 weeks starting May/June 2027.
• Strong communication and written skills demonstrated in coursework or projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform statistical analyses of data from basic drug research.
• Develop data pipelines to move, integrate and analyze diverse biological data for profiling candidates.

Skills

SQL

Python

R

MATLAB

Education

Data Science / CS degree

Tools

Redshift

AWS S3

DBeaver

SQL Workbench

Job description

Job Description The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research and Development Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals. The Quantitative Biosciences department is looking for a highly talented and motivated data science student to join our ranks. Collaborating closely with experienced pharmaceutical industry scientists, the chosen candidate will apply their skills in data analysis to contribute to the discovery and advancement of novel medicines across multiple therapeutic areas. We value open communication, creative-thinking, strong teamwork, and rigorous scientific exploration.

Responsibilities

• Perform statistical analyses of data from and/or statistical research related to basic drug research.
• Help develop novel data pipelines that move, integrate and analyze diverse sources of biological data that aid in the profiling of therapeutic candidates or improving the chances of translation.
• Develop and apply computational methods and machine learning models to foundational data sets to improve drug discovery processes.
• Help wrangle and analyze unstructured and structured data that will drive new translational strategies for the company.
• Engineering data pipelines between reporting environments and core databases: design and implement automated data connectors to establish seamless, bidirectional or automated data transfer between enterprise databases and reporting platforms.
• Communicate data progress during internal meetings; deliver a verbal presentation at the completion of training; participate in scientific exchange with our Company scientists.

Required Education & Experience

Candidates must be currently enrolled in a full-time degree program in Data Science / Computer Science or a related Bioscience discipline with substantial computational coursework; and have completed at least 2 years of studies toward BS/BA or at least 1 year towards master’s/PhD by the start of the internship. Available to work full-time for 10-12 weeks beginning in May or June of 2027. Superior verbal and written communication skills and a demonstrated record of strong academic achievement.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Database & SQL Proficiency
• Exposure to cloud data warehouses (Amazon Redshift, AWS S3) and database clients (DBeaver, SQL Workbench).
• Experience working with large data sets including the use of analytical and visualization software programs (Visual Analytics / BI Tools).
• Experience in at least one coding language (Python/R/MATLAB).
• Self-motivated and detail-orientated with excellent record keeping and organizational skills.

Salary Range

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

Employment Terms

• 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

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: 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.

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.

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Job Posting End Date: 10/23/2026. 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.