Intern – Formulation - Discovery and Technology Research

Job Description

We are looking for a motivated student in his/her last year of Master/Bachelor Science education in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Food- or Life Sciences with knowledge of material properties! Do you want to know what it's like to be part of one of the largest multinational companies in the pharmaceutical industry? We offer an internship opportunity within our Discovery and Technology Research department where you will have the freedom and space for your own initiative.

Intern - Formulation - Discovery and Technology Research

Welcome to our team

The Discovery and Technology Research department is an essential hub in our organization. The Vaccine Formulation team within this department is focused on developing new vaccine formulations such as adjuvant formulations and stabilizers. Formulation Science is about product composition, meaning that in our case excipients are screened to improve vaccine performance. The team consists of 6 employees, all of whom have extensive knowledge and experience in Vaccine Formulation. The team works closely with other departments within the company to achieve the stated goals.

Your internship assignment

As an intern, you will be responsible for developing liposomal formulations for delivery of plasmid DNA that encodes for antigens. We would like to expand our knowledge of these systems by varying ingredient ratio’s and potentially add new ingredients with different immunological characteristics. The work will include preparation of new lipid nanoparticles, physical characterization by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), determination of DNA encapsulation efficiency, and transfection studies. Depending on the background and interest of the candidate and willingness to extend the internship we could explore immunological characterization in biological relevant cell-based assays.

Your responsibilities

• Liposomal nanoparticle formation for DNA vaccines
• Physical chemical characterization using light scattering techniques (DLS)
• DNA encapsulation efficiency of different liposomal compositions
• Transfection efficiency of DNA containing liposomes in different cells
• Providing a fresh perspective to the department by sharing your opinion

The described tasks form the basic package and will often be performed independently after a proper training and learning period. These tasks may be supplemented with other projects and/or tasks on your own initiative or at the request of the organization.

What is required

• Last year of Master/Bachelor Science education in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Food- or Life Sciences with knowledge of material properties is required
• Basic understanding of cell biology/cell culturing and/or immunology is preferred
• Excellent Dutch and/or English communication skills, both written and verbal
• Available for a period of at least 6 months for 5 days per week

What we offer

Interning at our company means working together with your team towards health in an international work environment. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work closely with experts and learn from them. In addition, we offer:

• The chance to gain experience in the pharmaceutical industry
• An opportunity to showcase yourself for potential opportunities after your internship period
• A challenging and dynamic work environment with plenty of room for personal development and initiative
• Good guidance from an experienced specialist
• A gross monthly internship allowance of €500,- based on a 40-hour workweek

Animal Health Division

Our Animal Health Division is a trusted global leader in animal healthcare. We are committed to preserving and improving the health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. As a global team of professionals, we work together to make a positive difference in animal care and the world's food chain. We also have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society, and our planet.

By being dedicated to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we provide veterinarians, farmers, pet owners, and governments with one of the broadest ranges of animal health products, vaccines, and solutions and services for health management. Additionally, we deliver a comprehensive range of digitally connected identification, traceability, and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and extensive R&D capabilities and a modern, global supply chain. We are present in more than 50 countries, and our products are available in approximately 150 markets.

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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. 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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