Discovery Oncology Intern: Cancer Research & Lab Skills

Merck; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck invites highly motivated students to join its Future Talent Program as Oncology Discovery Interns for up to 12 weeks in 2027, offering hands-on cell-based and biochemical assay experience under scientific mentorship.

The role focuses on learning oncology drug discovery, designing experiments, and collaborating with teams across medicinal chemistry and pharmacology to advance potential targets and molecules, while developing data analysis and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in BS/BA in biological sciences or related discipline.
• Available to work full-time for up to 12 weeks beginning in May or June 2027.
• Strong desire to develop knowledge of oncology drug discovery.
• Experience with basic lab procedures: pipetting, solution preparation, plate assays.
• Experience with basic mammalian cell culture.
• Demonstrated ability to perform accurate data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design, execution, interpretation and reporting of in vitro experiments.
• Assist in developing, executing, and troubleshooting new cell based assays.
• Communicate data clearly and concisely to teams and stakeholders.
• Monitor, review, and critically interpret published work to guide your own research.
• Collaborate with members from other functional areas, including medicinal chemistry, in vivo and in vitro pharmacology and genetics.

Skills

Lab techniques

Data analysis

Independent work

Collaboration

Education

BS/BA in biological sciences or related discipline

Tools

Cell culture

Flow cytometry

Genomic perturbation techniques

Job description

Merck invites highly motivated students to join its Future Talent Program as Oncology Discovery Interns for up to 12 weeks in 2027, offering hands-on cell-based and biochemical assay experience under scientific mentorship.

The role focuses on learning oncology drug discovery, designing experiments, and collaborating with teams across medicinal chemistry and pharmacology to advance potential targets and molecules, while developing data analysis and communication skills.