Future Talent Program – Intern

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.

Our Company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Our Future Talent Program features internships that last 10-12 weeks and may include one or more projects. For you: these positions in our Research Labs will provide you with a great development opportunity and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals. For us: we get to meet the best and brightest individuals who represent the future of scientific endeavor in the US.

We are seeking candidates with a passion for scientific research, excellent academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional environment. A strong science background in applied laboratory settings is essential. Applicants with previous research experience in the listed areas are highly preferred. You will be provided with laptops/lab equipment etc. as necessary to perform the role. This is a paid internship targeted to start in June 2026 and run for 10-12 weeks. Potential involvement in a scientific publication may occur because of the research undertaken during the internship.

Mass Spectrometry and Biophysics (MSB) (Rahway, NJ)

The Mass Spectrometry and Biophysics group studies the interaction of ligands with therapeutic targets to explore the associated effects on structure and function. We employ a range of skills and techniques in this pursuit, including protein biochemistry (cloning, expression, purification), enzymology, biophysics (surface plasmon resonance, thermal shift, isothermal titration calorimetry, spectroscopy), mass spectrometry and biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The successful candidate will ideally have background knowledge or prior experience with one or more of these techniques and will have the opportunity to learn how to apply their expertise, along with a suite of complementary capabilities, to problem solve in support of our company's small and large molecule pipeline.

Interns will be responsible for accurate electronic notebook recording, safe laboratory practices, and presentation of data and their interpretation to a team of scientists. The intern will also attend departmental and team meetings to gain a wider perspective of the drug development process in the pharmaceutical industry.

Location: Rahway, NJ

Our intent is to provide an in-person experience where possible to afford the opportunity for our future talent to truly experience working in a pharmaceutical company. However, these details will be finalized closer to the time and will depend on the status of global events and their effect on travel options.

**Please note when applying for this position, if the applicant is selected for an interview, he/she must be prepared to submit letters of recommendation, a brief research statement, and a copy of his/her transcript. Applicant must select location when applying for this position in those cases where multiple locations are listed**

Required Education/Experience:

• Must be pursuing a BS/BA or Master’s/Ph.D. degree in related field with demonstrated interest/experience in research areas relevant to the drug discovery process

• Must possess a strong academic background in biochemistry, biophysics, and biology

• Must have completed at least two years of studies toward BS/BA degree or at least 1 year towards Master’s/PhD at time of internship (Summer 2026)

• Must be currently enrolled in an academic program at the time of the application and be continuing education for at least 1 semester once internship completes (Fall 2026)

• Must have basic laboratory skills and research experience such as protein biochemistry, enzymology, biophysics, molecular biology, protein expression and purification, protein characterization using biochemical and biophysical techniques, biochemical assay development, and safe lab practices

• Must be available for full-time employment for 10-12 weeks during the months of June - August 2026

Preferred Experience:

• Should have experience in in-vitro assay development using recombinant enzyme systems and/or cell lysates is preferred.

• Should have experience with traditional western blot techniques and exposure to ubiquitin-proteasome biology is beneficial.

• Should have hands-on experience with biophysical techniques such as MST, calorimetry, thermal-shift, DLS, and SPR is advantageous.

• Should have familiarity with multi-modal spectroscopic techniques (fluorescence, luminescence, etc.) is a plus.

• 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.

Under New York City, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Salary range:

The salary range for this role is $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD

FTP2026

RL2026

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.

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Yes

Required Skills:

Animal Vaccination, Animal Vaccination, Assay, Assay Development, Biochemical Assays, Clinical Research, Cloud Data Catalog, Data Analysis, Database Management, Data Science, Data Security, Data Visualization, Data Wrangling, Detail-Oriented, Drug Discovery Process, Enzymology, Event Planning, Immunoblots, In Vitro Assays, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Laboratory Safety, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Molecular Biology, Project Management, Python (Programming Language) {+ 1 more}

 Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

11/3/2025

*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.