Co-op - Future Talent Program in Protein and Structural Chemistry

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts up to 6 months 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

We are seeking a Co‑op to join our Protein & Structural Chemistry group within Discovery Chemistry. Our team uses multidisciplinary approaches to design, express, purify, and characterize protein reagents that enable structure elucidation and advance our drug discovery pipeline—ultimately helping improve patients’ lives.

The specific project will include evaluation of methodologies to generate protein reagents using both cell-free and traditional recombinant expression techniques. The co-op will purify, characterize and compare proteins generated from different expression platforms with the goal of generating protein suitable for structural studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute protein expression using recombinant and cell‑free platforms

• Purify and characterize proteins using various biophysical and biochemical techniques

• Maintain accurate electronic lab notebooks (ELNs); follow safe laboratory practices and proper use of biosafety cabinets and instrumentation

• Analyze and present data in both oral and written formats

• Participate in departmental and cross‑functional meetings to gain a broad perspective on the pharmaceutical drug development process

• Engage with an inclusive, collaborative team and contribute to a positive lab culture

Additional Learning Opportunities

• Exposure to automated/robotic systems and high‑throughput workflows

• Introduction to protein crystallization and cryo‑EM methods

Required Experience and Skills

• Candidate must have completion of at least two years of undergraduate studies (BS/BA) or one year of graduate studies (MS/PhD) by June 2026

• Candidate must have availability to work full‑time, on‑site for 6 months, in West Point, PA, beginning winter/spring/summer 2026

• Candidate must have knowledge of eukaryotic cell culture and aseptic technique

• Candidate must have knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry, protein expression, purification and/or characterization

• Candidate must be highly organized, self‑motivated, with strong analytical and communication skills

• Candidate must have the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment and to contribute to an inclusive culture

• Candidate must have meticulous attention to detail and documentation skills

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Candidate should have experience with eukaryotic cell maintenance, transfection, and scale‑up

• Candidate should have experience with FPLC, affinity/ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE, analytical SEC, DSF, LC/MS, Western blotting and/or related analytical assays

• Candidate should have experience with cell‑free protein expression

• Candidate should have familiarity with the pharmaceutical drug‑discovery process

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 $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD

FTP2026

RL2026

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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

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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):

Yes

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.