2027 Future Talent Program – Pharmaceutical Operations Intern
Merck
Summary
The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research Labs can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.
Job description
The Pharmaceutical Operations department is seeking summer interns who will work collaboratively in a team environment to help solve key challenges in formulation development, manufacturing and clinical supply chain. Pharmaceutical Operations (Pharm Ops) is responsible for drug product manufacturing for clinical studies, stability studies and new drug filings with locations in Rahway (NJ) and West Point (PA).
Example intern projects include:
- Process engineering to develop technical understanding of Oral Solid Dosage products.
- Process engineering to support manufacturing of injectable clinical supplies in West Point.
- Process engineering to support filling of injectable clinical supplies in Rahway.
- Design Engineering to develop technical understanding of process equipment and critical utility systems.
We are seeking intern candidates at all levels with strong academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional environment. The interns will participate in departmental and project team meetings to provide a broad perspective on the drug development process in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the intern student will have an opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats. During your internship appointment you will work closely with an experienced pharmaceutical industry scientist on a research project within the department.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree OR currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a Masters or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Engineering
- Available to work full-time for up to 12 weeks from May - August 2027
- Completed at least 2 years of studies toward bachelor's degree by June 2027
- Significant interest in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Clinical Supplies
- Basic laboratory skills and research experience (electronic notebook recording, HPLC, spectroscopy, analytical techniques, safe lab practices)
- Basic experience with analytic tools, programming and software such as MATLAB, Python, Aspen
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
Company overview
Merck & Co., Inc., known as Merck in the United States and Canada and MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) internationally, is a premier American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Founded in 1891 as the U.S. subsidiary of the German Merck Group, the company became independent following World War I and has since grown into one of the world's largest biomedical companies, ranking fourth globally by revenue. Merck operates across three core business segments: pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health products. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking research and development, having brought numerous life-saving medicines to market including Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a leading immunotherapy for cancer treatment that generated $29.5 billion in 2024 revenue, and Gardasil, a revolutionary HPV vaccine. With approximately 75,000 employees worldwide, Merck maintains a robust pipeline of innovative therapies focused on oncology, vaccines, hospital acute care, cardiology, neuroscience, virology, immunology, and diabetes. The company invests heavily in R&D, spending $17.9 billion in 2024 alone, demonstrating its commitment to advancing scientific discovery. Merck's legacy spans over 130 years of bringing hope to humanity through important medicines and vaccines, operating with a purpose to use leading-edge science to save and improve lives globally while fostering an inclusive workforce and responsible business practices.