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.

Our Company's Discovery Oncology team in Boston, MA is seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled student majoring in the biological or pharmaceutical sciences for a co-op opportunity. The applicant should have a strong interest in cancer research and in learning about oncology drug discovery. Successful candidates will be able to work independently and will be expected to proactively collaborate with colleagues.

The co-op will work with a scientific mentor to develop and carry out biochemical and/or cell-based assays to characterize new therapeutic targets and potential therapeutic molecules. Techniques used will include, but are not limited to, cancer cell line culture, proliferation assays, genomic perturbation techniques, western blotting, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry.

Responsibilities of the Discovery Oncology co-op may include:

• Design, execute, interpret, and report 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 of other functional areas, including medicinal chemistry, in vivo and in vitro pharmacology, and genetics.

Required Education and Skills:

• Candidates must be currently enrolled in a minimum of a BS/BA degree in biological sciences or a related discipline.

• Candidates must be available to work full-time for up to (6) consecutive months beginning in early to mid-2027.

• Candidates must be enrolled in a co-op program through their college or university.

• Candidates must have a strong desire to develop knowledge of oncology drug discovery.

• Candidates must have experience with basic laboratory procedures, such as pipetting, solution preparation, and plate-based assays. Experience with molecular biology is a plus.

• Candidates must have experience with basic mammalian cell culture.

• Candidates must have demonstrated ability to perform accurate data analysis.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Candidates should be strong collaborators with excellent oral and written communication skills, including preparation of lab reports and presentations.

• Candidates should have strong attention to detail.

• Candidates should have prior research experience.

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 $39,108 through $111,111.

FTP2027

RL2027

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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.

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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. 

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