2025 University Recruiting – Pharmaceutical Operations Co-op

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and consumer health products, as well as animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of people like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

The Future Talent Program features a co-op position that lasts 4 – 6 months and will include one or more projects. This opportunity 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.

Our Research & Development Division Pharmaceutical Sciences & Clinical Supplies (PSCS) organization is responsible for translating a therapeutic agent into a functional drug product optimized for patients. The Pharmaceutical Operations department is seeking a co-op student 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). The Engineering co-op candidate is responsible for contributing to design input, specification development, and hands-on troubleshooting to ensure process equipment (manufacturing and packaging) and utilities (compressed gases, purified water systems) remain functional and available to meet schedule demands. This will encompass understanding process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), electrical drawings, basic Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) operation and function, electrical and mechanical component operation, familiarity with HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), and knowledge of applicable tools, instruments, and troubleshooting techniques. The ability to provide hands-on support, mechanical solutions/options, and prompt responses is essential. Additionally, the Engineer will provide engineering and quality engineering (QE) support to ensure facilities, utilities, and equipment are properly maintained and suitable for both GMP and developmental use.

We are seeking co-op candidates at all levels with strong academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi- functional environment. The co-op 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 co-op student will have an opportunity to present their results in both oral and written formats. During your co-op appointment you will work closely with an experienced pharmaceutical industry engineer on a project within the department.

Locations: Rahway, NJ; West Point, PA

This is a full-time co-op position.

Required Education and Experience:

• Candidates must be a currently enrolled undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a Masters or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Engineering.
• Candidates must be available to work full-time for a minimum of four (4) months and maximum of six (6) months.
• Candidates must have completed at least (2) years of studies toward bachelor’s degree by June 2025.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Candidates should have a significant interest in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Clinical Supplies.
• Candidates should have basic laboratory skills and research experience, such as: electronic notebook recording, HPLC, spectroscopy, analytical techniques, and safe lab practices.
• Candidates should have significant experience with analytic tools, programming and software such as: MATLAB, Python, Aspen.
• Candidates should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

FTP2025

MRL2025

PSCS

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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:

01/31/2025

• 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.

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