2027 Future Talent Program - Vaccines Process Research & Development Upstream - Co-Op

Merck•Upper Gwynedd Township, PA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts 4-6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals. Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to isolate a compound that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough. Applications are sought for a scientific co-op opportunity in our company's Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D division. Under the direction of a project mentor, a successful candidate will perform lab-scale process development/scale-up studies, and develop robust, efficient, scalable cell culture processes for vaccine production. Duties may include lab-scale fermentation or cell culture, in-process assay support, process scale-up and engineering, maintaining/coordinating raw material and equipment inventories to support development experiments, technology transfer to later stage development groups, and functioning as a key member of an early-stage process development team. The candidate may also work on pilot-scale campaigns for the GMP manufacture of bulk clinical material. In this role, assignments could encompass aspects of campaign preparation, execution, and closeout of a GMP campaign. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the ability to convey the results of their work in both verbal and written formats. In addition to the core duties outlined above, the candidate will be expected to keep careful notes, comply with all required training, and maintain focused attention on laboratory safety for themselves and their team.

Requirements

Must be enrolled in a minimum of a BS/BA in: Chemical/Biomedical/Biological Engineering, Bioengineering, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or closely related field.
Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Must possess self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude.
Must have the ability to learn new techniques.
Must be able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
Must be able to keep accurate records.
Must be able to follow instructions.
Must be able to comply with company policies.
Must have proven ability to work in a hands-on laboratory setting.
Must have effective organization, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
Must be available to work full-time 4-6 months in 2027 (June - November or March - August).

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with cell culture/fermentation, upstream process development, and/or expression system development for vaccines and/or biologics is strongly preferred.
Hands-on immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and/or virometry (flow-based nanoparticle analysis) experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform lab-scale process development/scale-up studies.
Develop robust, efficient, scalable cell culture processes for vaccine production.
Conduct lab-scale fermentation or cell culture.
Provide in-process assay support.
Engage in process scale-up and engineering.
Maintain/coordinate raw material and equipment inventories to support development experiments.
Facilitate technology transfer to later stage development groups.
Function as a key member of an early-stage process development team.
Work on pilot-scale campaigns for the GMP manufacture of bulk clinical material.
Assist with campaign preparation, execution, and closeout of a GMP campaign.
Convey the results of their work in both verbal and written formats.
Keep careful notes.
Comply with all required training.
Maintain focused attention on laboratory safety for themselves and their team.