Intern - Analytical Chemistry - ATS

Internship Opportunity in Analytical Chemistry at ATS Material Science & Characterization

We are looking for a motivated final-year bachelor or master in the field of (analytical) chemistry! 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 ATS Material Science & Characterization department where you will have the freedom and space for your own initiative.

Welcome to our team
The ATS Material Science & Characterization department is an essential hub in our organization. This department is focused on physicochemical analytics. The team consists of fifteen employees, all of whom have extensive knowledge and experience in material science and characterization of API’s & excipients used for pharmaceutical formulations. The team works closely with other departments within the company to achieve the stated goals.

Your internship assignment
In pharmaceutical drug formulations, the particle size of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) plays a crucial role in determining the efficacy, safety, and stability of the final drug product. The Particle Size Distribution (PSD) influences several critical factors, including the dissolution rate, bioavailability, and uniformity of the dosage form. Smaller particle sizes typically lead to a larger surface area, enhancing the solubility and absorption of the drug. Conversely, larger particles might be necessary to control the release rate in sustained-release formulations. Therefore, optimizing the particle size of APIs is essential to ensure that the medication performs as intended, providing the desired therapeutic effects while minimizing potential side effects.

Two commonly employed techniques to determine the PSD of APIs are laser diffraction and microscopy. Each method has their unique advantages and potential drawbacks, making them suitable for different API morphologies.

As an intern your focus will lie on determining the pros and cons of each technique for different morphologies of the several APIs and excipients, providing a comprehensive understanding of their applicability and limitations.

You will analyze a large variety of APIs/excipients/model compounds with different morphologies (e.g. needles/spheres/rods) with a laser diffraction instrument (Malvern MS300) and an automated microscope (Malvern Morphologi 4). And investigate if there are certain morphologies of APIs which are more accurately characterized using one of the two techniques.

Your responsibilities

• Perform the analytical lab experiments using the above-mentioned techniques on API/excipients/model compounds with a wide variety of morphologies.
• Compare the obtained laser diffraction results with an orthogonal technique like SEM.
• Make a comprehensive comparison between the two techniques and investigate if the techniques have a bias for certain morphologies.
• 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

• A 4th year bachelor (HBO) or master student in analytical chemistry or similar
• You are familiar with working in a laboratory environment
• You are searching for an internship where you have the freedom to take initiative
• You are fluent in English
• You are available for a period of 6 – 9 months for 5 days a week.

What 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.

About Us

We are one company, but we operate under two different corporate brand names. We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as MSD everywhere else.