Merck Hiring Co-Op: Vaccines Process R&D Downstream

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts 4-6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to isolate a compound that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.

Applications are sought for a scientific co-op opportunity in our company's Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies Process Research & Development division. Under the direction of a project mentor, a successful candidate will conduct laboratory benchwork to execute, optimize, and troubleshoot downstream process unit operations and basic analytical techniques.

They will contribute to the development of new principles, concepts, and methods to enable process development, scale-up of processes to pilot scale, and technology transfer to manufacturing scale. Design, execute, and analyze process development experiments to maximize understanding of purification bioprocesses to make vaccine products and subsequently analyze, summarize, and present experimental results in a collaborative team environment. The candidate may also work on pilot-scale campaigns for the GMP manufacture of bulk clinical material. In this role, assignments could encompass aspects of campaign preparation, execution, and closeout of a GMP campaign.

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the ability to convey the results of their work in both verbal and written formats. In addition to the core duties outlined above, the candidate will be expected to keep careful notes, comply with all required training, and maintain focused attention on laboratory safety for themselves and their team.

Education Minimum Requirement

• Candidates must be enrolled in a minimum of a BS/BA in: Chemical/Biomedical/Biological Engineering, Bioengineering, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or closely related field.

Required Experience and Skills

• Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team, self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude.
• Must have ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, keep accurate records, follow instructions, and comply with company policies.
• Must have proven ability to work in hands-on laboratory setting.
• Must have effective organization, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be available to work full-time for 4-6 months in 2027 (June - November or March - August).

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Should have scientific understanding of downstream bioprocess purification processes.
• Should have scientific understanding of purification operations of large complex molecules.

Salary range: The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111.