2023 Discovery Biologics Intern

The Future Talent Program features internships that lasts up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research & Development Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

We are seeking candidates with a passion for scientific research, excellent academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional environment.  A strong science background in applied laboratory settings, computer science or cheminformatics is essential. Applicants with previous research experience in the listed areas are highly preferred. You will be provided with laptops/lab equipment etc. as necessary to perform the role.  This is a paid internship targeted to start in June 2023 and run for 10-12 weeks. Potential involvement in a scientific publication may occur as a result of the research undertaken during the internship.

The department of Discovery Biologics is offering internships in the following disciplines:

Protein Sciences -Protein Analytical Characterization (PS-PAC) (South San Francisco, CA)

The protein characterization group within Protein Sciences is using various analytical protein characterization techniques to characterize biologics, support protein engineering initiatives and help guide candidate selection for development. The candidate will be involved in implementing new analytical methods for protein characterization and developability assessment of biologics modalities (monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, antibody and protein scaffolds, Antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs). Prior experience with methods such as SEC, HIC, RP, DSF, SPR, ELISA and automation would be beneficial. The candidate will learn how to characterize biologics, interpret data, optimize protocols and develop new methods to help support protein engineering and biologics candidate selection. Intern will be exposed to many areas of research relevant to the drug discovery and development process.

Protein Sciences - Mass Spectrometry (PS-MS) (South San Francisco, CA)

The Mass Spectrometry group within Protein Sciences department is using various Mass Spectrometry-based methods to characterize biologics to support protein sciences core activities and enable biologics candidate selection for progression to development. The candidate will be involved in developing new mass spectrometry methodologies for biologics characterization (antibodies, bispecifics, fusion proteins, antibody drug conjugates, and bioconjugates). The position requires candidates being passionate about developing analytical methods. Prior experience with protein characterization using LC-MS and familiarity with different ionization methods (e.g., CID, ETD, HCD, and UVPD) is strongly preferred.

The candidate will learn how to characterize biologics, interpret data, optimize protocols and develop new methods to help support protein engineering and biologics candidate selection. Intern will be exposed to many areas of research relevant to the drug discovery and development process.

Biologics Engineering, Expression, Purification (PS-PEP, PS-PE, BOS-BPE) (South San Francisco, CA), BOS-PE (Boston, MA)

The successful candidate will work to support biologics discovery by using some or all of the following methods: molecular biology, protein design, engineering, protein expression in mammalian cells (transient, stable cell lines), protein purification (using various chromatographic support and chemistries such as affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic, size-exclusion chromatography) and characterization using methods including SDS-PAGE, CE-SDS, SEC, and etc. Interns will be exposed to many areas of research relevant to the drug discovery and development process.

The Biologics Design and Display group uses computational methods combined with yeast and phage display to identify and engineer novel therapeutic proteins.  Interns working in this group will gain experience in a broad range of techniques from molecular biology, microbiology, and protein engineering. 

The Biologics Automation & Capabilities group uses advanced automation and novel capabilities such as microfluidics to enable and enhance the discovery and engineering of biologics.  Interns working in this group will gain experience in a broad range of automation skills as applied to the discovery biologics pipeline.  Prior experience with automation is NOT required.  Students will also learn the fundamentals of molecular biology, cell culture, and protein engineering.

The Early Biotherapeutics Characterization group leverages phenotypic cell-based assays and biophysical measurements to evaluate biologics hits and leads for engineering efforts.  Students working in this group will gain hands on experience with techniques to measure protein-protein interactions and/or cell-based function assays to enable protein engineering.

The Gene & Cell Therapy group focuses on the development of novel mRNA and cell-based therapies such as CAR T cell therapies.  Students working in this group will gain experience in modern cell engineering methods to develop CAR T cell therapies.

The Early Biologics and Technologies (EBXT) team operates at the intersection of technology platforms, protein engineering, cellular assays, and antibody discovery to build next generation biotherapeutics with ground-breaking properties. EBXT collaborates with a wide spectrum of therapeutic area biology and drug discovery experts across Merck and places a strong emphasis on demonstrating proof-of-concept with an iterative design-build-test process. Students will have the opportunity to join a breadth of existing early discovery projects and will be expected to initiate their own pilot project opportunities.

Interns will be responsible for accurate electronic notebook recording, safe laboratory practices, and presentation of data and their interpretation to a team of scientists. The intern will also attend departmental and team meetings to gain a wider perspective of the drug development process in the pharmaceutical industry.

Locations:  South San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Cambridge, MA

**Please note when applying for this position, if the applicant is selected for an interview, he/she must be prepared to submit letters of recommendation, a brief research statement, and a copy of his/her transcript. Applicant must select location when applying for this position in those cases where multiple locations are listed **

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe. 

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.