2027 Future Talent Program - Chemical Engineering Research & Development Intern

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features internships that 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.

The Chemical Engineering Research and Development department (CERD) within the Small Molecule Process Research & Development (SM PRD) organization and Research Labs division is seeking interns who will operate as fully integrated members of our team for 11-12 weeks during summer 2027. Day-to-day research for the intern will focus on CERD department objectives such as small molecule and cross-modality (ex: antibody-drug-conjugate) active pharmaceutical ingredient (API, also referred to as drug substance) process development using organic synthesis techniques, technology innovation, and process safety evaluation. This internship will provide insight into our department and company culture, teach the fundamentals of the pharmaceutical industry, and highlight opportunities throughout the Research and the Manufacturing divisions.

Interns in CERD will participate in departmental and team meetings and have access to seminars on all aspects of pharmaceutical development, as well as the opportunity to network with mentors. Tours of pilot plants and development labs as well as a visit to a drug product formulation facility may be integrated into the internship program to diversify exposure.

The CERD department develops the processing knowledge necessary to successfully scale-up and efficiently produce small molecule and cross-modality APIs at clinical and commercial scale. Development efforts focus on ensuring robust, cost-effective, safe, environmentally benign chemical processes and advancing technologies for the laboratories, pilot plants, and manufacturing facilities to secure a competitive advantage for the company.

Members also work closely with Pilot Plants and Commercialization sites to ensure the successful transfer and validation of the process and to provide material for clinical trials or product launch, respectively.

CERD also invests in the development of new technologies and workflows to enable efficient process development. Spanning all unit operations required for API manufacture – reactions (including biocatalysis), separations (liq-liq extraction, distillation, crystallizations), and isolations (filtration, drying) –the scouting of technologies and evaluation of their applications presents a unique opportunity for innovation and broad impact across the product portfolio.

The intern will work with at least one technical mentor on a chemical engineering research project and will be responsible for accurate electronic notebook recording, experimental set-up techniques, interpretation of results, and safe lab practices. By taking ownership of the research project, the intern will utilize their chemical engineering skill set, become a subject matter expert on their topic, and will have the opportunity to present their results to the entire department.

We are seeking intern candidates with innovative minds who want to gain hands-on laboratory and scale-up skills. Candidates will have strong communication skills, technical know-how, teamwork, self-initiative, and the ability to work in a multi-functional and collaborative environment.

Education Minimum Requirement:  

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree, Master’s degree, or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Biochemical Engineering with a target graduation date of Winter 2027 or Spring 2028

• Applicants must be available for employment for 11-12 weeks beginning in May or June 2027

• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Candidates must have experience performing lab-based research/process development or shop floor experience in a pilot plant/manufacturing facility in a chemical engineering-related area

Preferred Experience and Skills:  

• Candidates should have strong technical/problem solving skills including grasp of chemical engineering fundamentals

• Candidates should have a strong interest in process/technology development and process scale-up moving from laboratory to pilot plant or production scale

• Candidates should have knowledge of organic chemistry and small molecule API synthesis unit operations (e.g. reaction, distillation, extraction, crystallization, filtration, drying)

• Candidates should have a high level of innovation, creativity, and self-initiative along with the ability to plan and organize activities

• Candidates should have strong communication and collaboration skills

To learn more about the PRD team, click: Join Our Process Research & Development Team
 

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 $$39,908 - $111,111

FTP2027

RL2027
PRD

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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.

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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. 

Employee Status:

Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

possibly

Job Posting End Date:

10/19/2026

*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.