2026 Future Talent Program - Continuous & Expression Technologies - Co-op

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 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 & Development Division is dedicated to advance breakthrough science focused on patient needs. The Continuous & Expression Technologies (CET) group, within the Process Research & Development department, is seeking a co-op with a passion for scientific research and work collaboratively across teams. We offer opportunities in our state-of-the-art laboratories to solve fundamental biological and engineering challenges relevant to drug development and manufacturing, while functioning as fully integrated members of the company project teams.

The Continuous & Expression Technologies (CET) group is responsible for driving drug manufacture innovation across our company's diverse pipeline. CET is seeking a co-op in Large Molecule Continuous Manufacturing Technologies (LM CMT) in upstream processing. LM CMT is responsible for improving process intensification with both mammalian perfusion cell culture and downstream integrated continuous manufacturing.

The co-op will be exposed to fundamentals of process intensification and continuous processing of biologics, building expertise in the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) perfusion cell culture, including developing a perfusion scale-down model based on hydrodynamic stress.

NOTE: If a candidate is selected for an interview, the candidate should be prepared to submit letters of recommendation and a brief research statement and a copy of transcripts.

Co-ops will be responsible for accurate electronic notebook recording of experimental details and for analysis and interpretation of data that may be used for internal or external scientific publications which may follow from the co-op experience. Co-ops will have the opportunity to gain further knowledge, and skill sets via refinement of laboratory skills, introduction to new experimental techniques, exposure to current challenges in research, and perspectives on the practical aspects of drug development. In addition, the co-op student will have an opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats.

This is a full-time co-op position wherein we are seeking candidates at all levels with strong academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional and fast-paced environment.

The target start date for this position is March or April 2026.

Minimum Education Requirements:

• Candidates must be a currently enrolled student pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Chemistry, Biology (e.g. Cell Biology, Virology), Biochemistry, Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Computer, Electrical), Materials Science, Pharmaceutical Science or a related discipline.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States

Required Experience and Skills:

• Candidates must be available to complete a 4-6 month full-time co-op experience at our Company (start dates are flexible).

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Candidates should have significant interest in pharmaceuticals.
• Candidates should have basic laboratory skills (lab notebook recording, use of instrumentation, analysis and interpretation of data, and safe lab practices), research experience, along with a problem-solving attitude.
• Candidates should have aseptic technics, cell culture experience, knowledge of perfusion cultures for continuous manufacturing.
• Candidates should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

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 $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD

FTP2026
RL2026
PRD

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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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:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

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.

Requisition ID: R362452