2027 Future Talent Program Neuroscience Discovery Co-op

About the role

The Future Talent Program features co-ops that last 6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research and Development division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

Our company’s Neuroscience team is seeking a motivated and technically skilled co-op student majoring in the biological sciences, pharmacology or bioengineering. The student should have strong interest in neuroscience and learning about Central Nervous System (CNS) drug discovery. Successful candidates will be able to work independently and will be expected to proactively collaborate with colleagues.

Primary responsibilities include contributing to the planning and execution of in vitro and/or in vivo experiments that may encompass establishing cell-based model systems, high throughput screening, immunoassays and performing biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of tissues to support the identification and validation of novel targets to treat CNS diseases. The candidate will be an active participant in the positive and critical scientific dialogue that supports our mission of drug discovery.

The responsibilities of the Early Discovery Neuroscience team member include but are not limited to the following:

• Design, execute, interpret and report in vitro and/or in vivo experiments.
• Assist in developing, executing, and troubleshooting new in vitro or in vivo assays, protocols and/or imaging methods.
• Communication of data clearly and concisely to teams and stakeholders.
• Monitor, review and critically interpret published work to guide their research.
• Collaborate with members from other functional areas, including medicinal chemistry, in vivo and in vitro pharmacology and genetics.

Education Minimum Requirement

• Candidates must be currently enrolled in a BS/BA/MA/PhD degree program in the biological sciences or related disciplines such as biology, chemistry, pharmacy, or health related fields.

Required Experience and Skills

• Candidates must have completed at least two years toward degree program by June of 2026
• Candidates must be available to work full-time for 6 months beginning in early to mid-2027
• Candidates must have theoretical knowledge of at least 2 of the following areas: molecular biology techniques, biochemistry, cell culture, neuroscience, functional neuroanatomy, pharmacology, toxicology, fluorescence microscopy, electrophysiology, cell biology and neurological diseases.
• Candidates must have hands-on experience with basic biology/chemistry lab procedures with at least some of the following: patch-clamp electrophysiology, Western blot, ELISA/biochemical assays, PCR, sterile cell culture with mammalian cell lines, primary neuron culture and human stem cells (iPSCs), calcium imaging and in vivo experience or rodent pain-behaviour testing is highly desirable. Candidates with a strong interest and demonstrated ability to learn these techniques will also be considered
• Candidates must have strong desire to develop knowledge of neuroscience drug discovery and work in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Candidates must have demonstrated ability to perform accurate data collection and analysis and presentation of results.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Candidates should have previous neuroscience, biochemistry, molecular biology class work.
• Candidates should have experience with molecular biology assays AND/OR in vitro cell culture techniques AND/OR rodent behaviour, animal handling, dosing procedures, tissue processing.
• Candidates should demonstrate interest in conducting experiments to determine efficacy of test compounds, establish dose-response and pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic relationships, investigate biomarker responses and target engagement or modulation in vitro or in vivo.
• Candidates should have excellent oral and written communication skills, including preparation of lab reports and presentations.
• Candidates should have strong attention to detail.

Additional information

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

Preferred Skills

• Current Employees apply HERE
• Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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.

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• 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: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): Yes
• Job Posting End Date: 11/30/2026

Additional information

*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.