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.

Position Description

The mission of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism, and Bioanalytics (PDMB) at Our Company is to advance the therapeutic pipeline through cutting-edge analytical and biochemical data, strengthened molecular design, and mechanistic insights that inform translational modeling and support the development of safe and effective medicines. Within this mission, Bioanalytical Sciences play a critical role in enabling lead molecule screening, data-driven decision-making, and advancement of promising therapeutic candidates.

This internship provides an opportunity to support the development of a Design of Experiments (DOE)-guided decision tree for robust bioanalytical method development, while gaining hands-on exposure to modern bioanalytical technologies and contributing to a practical framework with real-world application.

Project Overview:
Bioanalytical assays often require optimization of multiple interdependent parameters and traditional one-factor-at-a-time optimization can be time-consuming and may not fully capture interactions between critical assay variables.

The intern will review common bioanalytical method-development workflows and identify key assay parameters that influence performance of the assay. Using DOE principles, the intern will organize these variables into a structured framework for screening, prioritization, and optimization. The project will also include development of a practical decision tree that connects assay performance challenges with recommended experimental next steps. The final framework will help support a more standardized, efficient, and data-driven approach for developing robust, fit-for-purpose bioanalytical assays.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Ability to think critically and approach challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.

• Analyze experimental and operational bioanalytical datasets.

• Support development of automated tools for data review, visualization, and reporting.

• Assist with assay performance investigations and trend analyses.

• Prepare technical summaries and presentations of project findings.

Required Education:

• Must be a full-time student currently enrolled in a PhD program in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related life science fields

• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0

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

• Must be able to complete a 10-12 consecutive week internship between May and August 2027

• Must have basic laboratory skills and research experience with ligand binding assay. 

Required Skills:

• Must have knowledge of basic laboratory techniques, ability to collect, record, and analyze data accurately.

• Must have proficiency in statistical analysis software (e.g., Mini tab, STAT 360).

• Must have basic laboratory skills and research experience with ligand binding assay.

• Must possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Must possess effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Must have ability to work independently and within a team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Should have familiarity with bioanalytical or clinical laboratory data.

• Should possess knowledge of molecular biology, immunology, or flow cytometry.

• Should have experience developing dashboards or data visualizations.

• Should have ability to work well in a team-oriented environment

Learning Opportunities:

The intern will gain exposure to:

• The intern will gain hands-on exposure to bioanalytical method development, assay optimization, and Design of Experiments (DOE) concepts in a drug development setting.

• Build practical skills in identifying critical assay parameters and interpreting assay performance

• Biologics development programs.

• Cross-functional collaboration within a pharmaceutical research organization.

• Scientific communication and presentation skills.

Expected Deliverables:

• Data analysis report and recommendations.

• Automated workflow, dashboard, or analytical tool.

• Final presentation summarizing project objectives, methods, results, and impact.

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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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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