2027 Future Talent Program - Discovery Chemistry & Process Research - Intern

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 39,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD Malaysia offers a Future Talent Program internship in its Research & Development Division, including projects in discovery chemistry and process research. Interns will work in a modern laboratory, gain hands-on experience, and participate in team meetings to understand the drug discovery process.

Ideal candidates are enrolled sophomores to seniors or graduate students in chemistry with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, who can commit to 10–12 weeks from May to August 2027.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in chemistry.
• Minimum two years of studycompleted by June 2027.
• Strong academic performance and good communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Work on synthetic chemistry projects relevant to drug discovery.
• Maintain accurate electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN).
• Contribute to cross-functional teams and present results in oral and written formats.

Skills

Organic chemistry

ELN documentation

GPA 3.0+

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Graduate student pursuing master's or Ph.D. in Chemistry

Job description

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and include working on one or more specially designed projects. These opportunities in our Research & Development Division provide meaningful professional development and an opportunity to explore whether our company is the right fit for your long-term career goals. Our company's Research Lab's Discovery and Process Research Departments across multiple geographies are seeking summer interns with a passion for scientific research, strong academic performance, communication skills, and the ability to work on cross-functional teams. We offer opportunities in our state-of-the-art science laboratories to solve fundamental synthetic or biological problems relevant to drug discovery and development, while functioning as fully integrated members of the company project teams. Discovery Chemistry and Process Research (Boston, MA; Rahway, NJ; West Point, PA; South San Francisco, CA) Candidates will work alongside company scientists in an organic synthesis laboratory to solve challenging problems in synthetic chemistry relevant to pharmaceutical research and development. Day-to-day research will focus on advancing chemical synthesis, reaction development, and enabling technologies by leveraging modern advances in organic chemistry. In addition to the discovery and development of synthetic routes to potential drug candidates, interns may engage in high-throughput and data-rich experimentation (HTE/DRE), bio- and chemocatalysis screening and development, laboratory automation, flow chemistry, labeled compound synthesis, involving data science/informatics approaches to reaction optimization and process understanding. Interns will participate in departmental and project team meetings, gaining broad exposure to the drug discovery and development process within the pharmaceutical industry. They will gain hands-on experience addressing practical challenges encountered in pharmaceutical research and development while working as members of multidisciplinary teams. Interns will be responsible for maintaining accurate electronic laboratory notebooks and adhering to safe laboratory practices. In addition, they will have the opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats.

Required Education & Experience

Candidates must be currently enrolled sophomore, junior, or senior students pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry; OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a master's or Ph.D. in Chemistry. Candidates must have completed at least two years of studies toward a bachelor’s degree by June 2027.

Candidates must be available to work full-time for approximately 10-12 weeks from May - August 2027.

Preferred Experience & Skills

Candidates should have a strong interest in organic chemistry and its application to pharmaceutical research and development. Candidates should possess basic laboratory skills and prior research experience involving standard experimental techniques and electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) documentation. Candidates should have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

Salary range

The salary range for this role is $39,108 through $111,111.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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.

Additional Information

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. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts. 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.

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): possible

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.