2027 Future Talent Program - Sterile Product Development - Intern

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

Job summary

Merck invites applicants to join the Future Talent Program as interns for up to 12 weeks, with opportunities on multiple projects in our Research Labs Division. The program aims to develop skills and assess fit for long-term opportunities within our pharmaceutical sciences and clinical supply organization.

Interns will collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to support sterile product development across small molecules, peptides, biologics and nucleic acids.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be enrolled as an undergraduate 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.
• Intern must be available to work full-time for 10-12 weeks from June – August 2027.
• Candidates must have completed a minimum of two years of study toward a bachelor’s degree by June 2027.

Responsibilities

• Participate in departmental and project team meetings to learn the drug development process in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Present research results in oral and written formats during the internship.
• Work closely with an experienced pharmaceutical industry scientist on a research project with key tasks including characterization of molecules and formulations.
• Learn to plan and execute research related to design, development and characterization of novel drug delivery approaches.

Skills

Academic performance

Communication

Teamwork

Multi-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's or PhD

Tools

HPLC

Spectroscopy

Analytical techniques

Electronic notebook

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

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 Labs 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 interns 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.

Skills

We are seeking intern candidates with strong academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional environment. The intern 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 student will have an opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats. During the internship 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.

Required Education And Skills

• 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.
• Intern must be available to work full-time for 10-12 weeks from June – August 2027.
• 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

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

Requirements

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.

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)

n/a

Job Posting End Date

11/6/2026

• A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID:

R411965