2026 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.

A summer research internship position is available in the Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) group within the Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism, and Bioanalytics (PDMB) function of our Company's Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California. The DMPK group is a center of excellence to provide expertise as a key component of the multi-disciplinary drug discovery effort in our Research & Development Division at South San Francisco, with a focus on supporting preclinical development of therapeutics of various modalities through integrated understanding of drug disposition and pharmacology. Therapeutic areas may include immunology and oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and ophthalmology.

This research internship will last up to 12 weeks at our South San Francisco, CA site. The research project will focus on advancing detection sensitivity of ADC/novel biologics by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technologies. The intern will be guided to design and conduct an advanced analytical technique: Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) and to optimize sample preparation and cleanup workflow. In addition, the intern will have the opportunity to engage in scientific discussion, present findings, and develop an understanding of the field of DMPK and its impact on drug discovery and development. The intern will also have opportunities to participate in various special events/programs for summer interns to explore your future career interest and learn drug discovery and development at our Company.

Key Roles/Responsibilities will include:

• Independently plan and conduct sample preparation for bioanalysis.

• LC- MS operation and quantitative/qualitative mass spec analysis of proteins/peptides.

• Perform analyses using software such as Proteome Discoverer, Skyline, Genedata, MaxQuant and other mass spectrometry software packages.

• Independently interpret data, clearly present data to teams.

• Participate in group meetings and present the results of the research project at the end of internship.

• Potentially publish the work.

Education:

• Must be a full-time student currently enrolled in a Master's/PhD program in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, cell biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, biochemical engineering or a related discipline.

• Must be enrolled full-time in the Fall Semester at an accredited university/college after the completion of the internship.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Must be able to complete a 10-12 consecutive week internship between May and August 2026.

• Must have basic laboratory skills and research experience on high resolution mass spectrometers (e.g. TOF, Orbitraps).

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Should have prior experience and knowledge in FAIMS.

• Should have prior experience maintaining and troubleshooting HPLC and mass spectrometers.

• Should possess good verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.

• Should be efficient, organized, and able to handle short timelines in a fast-paced environment.

• Should have strong critical thinking, ability to identify issues and seek solutions.

• Should have the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Should have proficiency with MS Office Suite.

• Should have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

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:

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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:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Yes

Required Skills:

Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Research, Cloud Data Catalog, Data Analysis, Database Management, Data Science, Data Security, Data Visualization, Data Wrangling, Detail-Oriented, Drug Discovery Process, Drug Metabolism, Enzymology, Event Planning, Immunochemistry, Immunotherapy, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Ophthalmology, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Project Management {+ 2 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.