2025 University Recruiting - Discovery Oncology Co-op (Boston, MA)

Job Description

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features co-ops that last up to 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 company's oncology discovery team (located in Boston, MA) is seeking motivated and technically skilled students majoring in the biological sciences or pharmacy for co-op roles. The student should have strong interest in cancer research and learning about oncology drug discovery. Successful candidates will be able to work independently and will also be expected to proactively collaborate with colleagues.

The co-op will work with a scientific mentor to develop and carry out biochemical, and/or cell-based assays to characterize new therapeutics targets and potential therapeutic molecules. Techniques used will include primary and cancer cell line culture, proliferation assays, and flow cytometry. This project has the potential to identify new targets/pathways for oncology therapy.

Responsibilities of the oncology discovery co-op may include:

• Design, execute, interpret, and report in vitro experiments.

• Assist in developing, executing, and troubleshooting new cell assays.

• Communicate data clearly and concisely to teams and stakeholders.

• Monitor, review, and critically interpret published work to guide your own research.

• Collaborate with members from other functional areas, including medicinal chemistry, in vivo and in vitro pharmacology, and genetics.

Required Education and Skills:

• Candidates must be currently enrolled in a minimum of a BS/BA degree in biological sciences or a related discipline.

• Candidates must be available to work full-time for up to (6) consecutive months beginning in early to mid-2025.

• Candidates must be enrolled in a co-op program through their college or university.

• Candidates must have a strong desire to develop knowledge of oncology drug discovery.

• Candidates must have experience with basic lab procedures: pipetting, solution preparation, plate assays.

• Candidates must have experience with basic mammalian cell culture.

• Candidates must have demonstrated ability to perform accurate data analysis.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Candidates should have excellent oral and written communication skills, including preparation of lab reports and presentations.

• Candidates should have strong attention to detail.

• Candidates should have prior research experience.

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

Under New York City, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected salary range:

$39,600.00-$105,500.00

FTP2025

MRL2025 

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

Current Employees apply HERE

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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:

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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.

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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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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”.

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. 

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Relocation:

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Flexible Work Arrangements:

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