Intern - Life Science or related - Discovery and Technology

Job Description

We are looking for a motivated third-year or fourth-year of  BSc or MSc student in life sciences, bio-chemistry, biotechnology preferably with at least 1 prior internship!

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 (D&T) department where you will have the freedom and space for your own initiative.

Intern - BSc or MSc student - Discovery and Technology (D&T) department

Welcome to our team

The Discovery and Technology (D&T) department is an essential hub in our organization. This department conducts proof – of – concept research into novel vaccine technologies and therapies and plays a key role in interacting with the R&D community to identify and evaluate potential new leads relevant to Animal Health. The D&T organization consists of cross-linked teams responsible for development research and early development of vaccines and therapies against viral-, bacterial- and parasitological diseases. Within the multidisciplinary teams, specialist in the fields of virology, bacteriology, antigen discovery, vaccine formulation, molecular biology, immunology, assay development and cell biology work together.

Your internship assignment:

This internship involves supporting the development and optimization of a novel CRISPR-based diagnostic platform capable of detecting both DNA- and RNA-based viruses, with a focus on differentiating wild-type from vaccine strains. Building on a successful proof-of-concept, the project aims to extend the platform’s diagnostic capabilities for use in animal health.

Your responsibilities

• Test the system on a range of clinical samples (e.g., nasal washes, saliva, serum), including non-extracted samples, to assess the feasibility of field-ready viral detection.

• Contribute to the design and implementation of amplification-free detection workflows, aiming to simplify the assay, reduce turnaround time, and enable quantitative, point-of-care applications.

• Design and test high-specificity crRNAs for distinguishing between closely related viral strains (e.g., canine parvovirus variants with single nucleotide differences), evaluating performance against conventional PCR methods.

• Analyze assay results to identify patterns, troubleshoot inconsistencies, and optimize system performance through iterative improvements.

• Bring forward new ideas to support system versatility and diagnostic accuracy, helping bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world field application.

The above-mentioned responsibilities are an indication of what you will be doing after proper onboarding and initial learning and development. This provides you with the opportunity to learn and hereafter perform tasks independently. In consultation with your supervisor, you could take on additional tasks and responsibilities.

We are looking for:

• A last year BSc or a MSc student in a biology related field.

• You are familiar with molecular biology techniques

• You are enthusiastic about finding creative solutions to real biological problems.

• You are searching for an internship where you have the freedom to take initiative

• You are fluent in English

• You are available for 5 days a week for a period of 6 to 9 months

What we offer:
Being an intern at our company means you will work together with a team on healthcare in an international environment. As a student, you will get the opportunity to develop yourself. In addition, we offer:

• A broad-based internship, which allows you to get acquainted with many aspects of the field and there to gain experience, with enough room for own initiative.

• A challenging and dynamic learning environment with a lot of space for personal development.

• A challenging and dynamic work environment with lots of space to develop yourself

• Professional guidance by an experienced specialist

• A placement fee of € 500,- gross per month (based on a 40-hour week)

Animal Health

Our Animal Health Division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive difference in animal care and the world’s food supply and have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society, and our planet.

Through our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we offer veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. We are present in more than 50 countries, while our products are available in some 150 markets.

NLINTERN

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

Employee Status:

Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Analytical Problem Solving, Analytical Problem Solving, Assay, Assay Development, Biotechnology, Cell-Based Assays, Clinical Research, Communication, Data Analytics, Database Management, Data Entry, Data Visualization, Document Management, Global Supply Chain, Health Economics, Immunoassays, Management Process, Medical Virology, Molecular Biology, Office Applications, Personal Development, Process Improvements, Project Management, Reporting and Analysis, Task Coordination {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

06/30/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID: R348811