2026 Future Talent Program - Device Development & Technology - Co-op (Systems & Human Factors)

MSD

90d • $39,600 - $105,500

About The Position

The Future Talent Program offers co-ops of up to 6-months, each involving one or more projects designed to support your professional growth. These opportunities in our Research & Development Division provide valuable development while allowing you to explore whether we are the right company for your long-term career goals. Our success depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of people like you. That is why we strive to foster an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and collaboration. As part of our global team, you will work alongside talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career. Within our company, the Pharmaceutical Sciences & Global Clinical Supplies organization is responsible for translating therapeutic agents into functional drug products optimized for patients. The Device Development & Technology team focuses on discovering, developing, and commercializing superior delivery devices – including dry powder inhalers (DPI), metered dose inhalers (MDI), nasal and parenteral systems (ophthalmic, injectables, and implants) – to support small molecules, biologics, and vaccine therapeutics requiring complex delivery routes.

Requirements

• Candidates must be a currently enrolled undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior student pursuing a Bachelors degree OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a Masters or PhD in Human Factors, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Usability Engineering, Biomechanics, Cognitive Science, or equivalent.
• Candidates must be available to work full-time for up to (6) months in 2026.
• Candidates must have completed at least (2) years of studies toward bachelor’s degree by June 2026.
• Ability to apply user-centered design, human factors, and risk management principles to product research, development, and design.
• Proven experience in conducting literature reviews as well as experience in selecting and implementing appropriate risk management and human factors/user experience research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, survey design, research study design).
• Ability to analyze and synthesize large quantities of information into usable communications, literature reviews and/or presentations.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and aptitude for quickly picking up advanced domain knowledge.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, formal presentation) and proven ability to collaborate with and across various multidisciplinary teams within the organization.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of medical devices, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or similar regulated industry, is a significant plus.
• M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are strongly preferred.
• Candidates should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning, conducting, and reporting of various forms of human factors activities including but not limited to user needs identification, user journey/profiles mapping, usability study planning/execution, instructions for use/user training development, known use problem documentation, task and use error analysis, risk assessment/management, and post-launch outcomes analysis.
• Maintain device risk management documentation by conducting risk assessments, evaluating failure modes, causes, and effects (FMEA/FMEDA), and updating risk control and mitigation strategies based on post‑market surveillance, complaint data, and customer feedback to ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ISO 14971) and regulatory requirements.
• Perform independent literature and database reviews to identify relevant scientific and regulatory evidence, synthesize findings, and summarize implications for the team's risk management and human factors work.
• Conduct primary user research, discovering behaviors and motivations through methods such as surveys, interviews, usability testing and more that could lead to the exploration of new research directions and methodologies.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis and distill the research insights into impactful, actionable, and compelling deliverables and other job-related duties or special projects as appropriate.

Benefits

• Salary range: $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees