2027 Future Talent Program - Discovery Chemistry & Process Research - Intern

MSD • Boston, MA

12h • $39,108 - $111,111 • Onsite

About The Position

The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and include working on one or more specially designed projects. These opportunities in our Research & Development Division provide meaningful professional development and an opportunity to explore whether our company is the right fit for your long-term career goals. Our company's Research Lab's Discovery and Process Research Departments across multiple geographies are seeking summer interns with a passion for scientific research, strong academic performance, communication skills, and the ability to work on cross-functional teams. We offer opportunities in our state-of-the-art science laboratories to solve fundamental synthetic or biological problems relevant to drug discovery and development, while functioning as fully integrated members of the company project teams.

Discovery Chemistry and Process Research (Boston, MA; Rahway, NJ; West Point, PA; South San Francisco, CA)
Candidates will work alongside company scientists in an organic synthesis laboratory to solve challenging problems in synthetic chemistry relevant to pharmaceutical research and development. Day-to-day research will focus on advancing chemical synthesis, reaction development, and enabling technologies by leveraging modern advances in organic chemistry. In addition to the discovery and development of synthetic routes to potential drug candidates, interns may engage in high-throughput and data-rich experimentation (HTE/DRE), bio- and chemocatalysis screening and development, laboratory automation, flow chemistry, labeled compound synthesis, involving data science/informatics approaches to reaction optimization and process understanding.

Interns will participate in departmental and project team meetings, gaining broad exposure to the drug discovery and development process within the pharmaceutical industry. They will gain hands-on experience addressing practical challenges encountered in pharmaceutical research and development while working as members of multidisciplinary teams. Interns will be responsible for maintaining accurate electronic laboratory notebooks and adhering to safe laboratory practices. In addition, they will have the opportunity to present their research results in both oral and written formats.

Please note that applicants must obtain approval from their principal investigator (PI) prior to applying for this position. If the candidate is selected for an interview, the applicant must be prepared to submit letters of recommendation and a brief research statement and a copy of transcripts.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled sophomore, junior, or senior students pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry; OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a master's or Ph.D. in Chemistry.
• Completed at least two years of studies toward a bachelor’s degree by June 2027.
• Available to work full-time for approximately 10-12 weeks from May - August 2027.

Nice To Haves

• Strong interest in organic chemistry and its application to pharmaceutical research and development.
• Basic laboratory skills.
• Prior research experience involving standard experimental techniques and electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) documentation.
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

Responsibilities

• Work alongside company scientists in an organic synthesis laboratory to solve challenging problems in synthetic chemistry relevant to pharmaceutical research and development.
• Advance chemical synthesis, reaction development, and enabling technologies by leveraging modern advances in organic chemistry.
• Engage in high-throughput and data-rich experimentation (HTE/DRE), bio- and chemocatalysis screening and development, laboratory automation, flow chemistry, labeled compound synthesis, involving data science/informatics approaches to reaction optimization and process understanding.
• Participate in departmental and project team meetings, gaining broad exposure to the drug discovery and development process within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Gain hands-on experience addressing practical challenges encountered in pharmaceutical research and development while working as members of multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintain accurate electronic laboratory notebooks.
• Adhere to safe laboratory practices.
• Present research results in both oral and written formats.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern