2027 Future Talent Program - Sterile Product Development – Co-op

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

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ is seeking a motivated co-op to join the Sterile Product Development group within the Research Division for a 4–6 month full-time program.

The co-op will work under the guidance of an experienced pharmaceutical scientist on projects spanning sterile drug product formulation development, physicochemical characterization, and delivery approaches for diverse modalities.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field.
• GPA 3.0+ preferred and strong lab skills are expected.
• Availability for a full-time 4–6 month co-op in Rahway, NJ.

Responsibilities

• Assist in formulation development of sterile drug products across modalities.
• Utilize physicochemical characterization techniques to understand product properties.
• Support development and execution of in vitro screening systems and stability studies.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and present research findings.

Skills

HPLC

Spectroscopy

Analytical techniques

Lab notebook documentation

Education

Bachelor's in Pharmaceutical Sciences

GPA 3.0+

Job description

Job Description

The 2027 Future Talent Program features an opportunity that last 6 months for the Co-op program 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.

Our Company Research Lab’s Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply organization is responsible for translating a therapeutic agent into a functional drug product optimized for patients.

Our Sterile and Specialty Products department is a multi-disciplinary group that enables sterile drug product and process development through application of pharmaceutical science and drug delivery research for clinical candidates.

The Sterile Product Development department is located in Rahway (NJ) and is seeking co-ops who will work collaboratively in a team environment to help solve key challenges in formulation development of sterile pharmaceutical products of diverse modalities including small molecules, peptides, biologics, and nucleic acids.

We are seeking co-op candidates with strong academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional environment.

The co-op will participate in departmental and project team meetings to learn a broad perspective on the drug development process in the pharmaceutical industry.

In addition, the co-op student will have an opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats.

During the co‑op appointment they will work closely with an experienced pharmaceutical industry scientist on a research project with key tasks that include, but not limited to, the following:

• Utilization of a variety of physical and chemical characterization techniques to develop an understanding of the physicochemical characteristics of small molecules, proteins, and peptides, and associated formulations.
• Utilization of modeling tools to assess formulation stability and performance.
• Development of small-scale in vitro screening systems to predict formulation performance.
• Planning and executing research related to the design, development and characterization of novel drug delivery approaches for drug candidates.

Minimum Requirements

• Candidates must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor's degree (sophomore, junior, or senior) OR a graduate student pursuing a Master's or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Candidates must be available to work full-time for 4-6 months.
• Candidates must have completed a minimum of two (2) years of study toward a bachelor’s degree by June 2027.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Candidates should have basic laboratory skills and research experience, such as: electronic notebook recording, HPLC, spectroscopy, analytical techniques, and safe lab practices.
• Candidates should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company.

Salary range: The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111 USD FTP2027 RL2027

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.

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

Search Firm Representatives

Please Read Carefully 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.

Contract and Work 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: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): Yes
• Job Posting End Date: 11/6/2026