2023 Device Development Human Factors Co-op

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts up to 6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research & Development Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

The Merck Device Development team is seeking a driven Human Factors Co-Op who is passionate about applying human factors and user-centered design principles to the research and development of innovative solutions in the medical devices and combination products space.

Our team pushes the boundaries of global healthcare through research and innovation. The successful candidate will interact closely with members of the Device Development team and other cross-functional stakeholders to support the research and development efforts of a wide range of drug delivery devices. Joining the team means you will have the opportunity to be a part of our continued efforts to developing medical products that are innovative, with patient safety as our highest priority.

Roles and Responsibilities -

• Leverage human factors/ergonomics principles, knowledge of human performance (perceptual, cognitive, motor skills), and best practices to identify user needs, user attitudes/behaviors, and use scenarios, to inform design/research activities across the product lifecycle
• Support the planning, conducting, and reporting of various forms of human factors activities including but not limited to user needs identification, user journey/profiles mapping, usability study planning/execution, instructions for use/user training development, task and use error analysis, risk assessment/management, and post-launch outcomes analysis
• Perform scientific literature reviews and database research on various topics independently and synthesize relevant information in support of team's human factors research
• Conduct primary user research, discovering behaviors and motivations through methods such as surveys, interviews, usability testing and more that could lead to the exploration of new research directions and methodologies
• Perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis and distill the research insights into impactful, actionable, and compelling deliverables
• Perform other job-related duties or special projects as appropriate

Required Education & Experience:

• Candidate must be enrolled in a college/institution and pursuing a degree in Human Factors, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Usability Engineering, Biomechanics, Cognitive Science, or equivalent (M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are strongly preferred).
• Candidate must have availability for up to a 6-month internship/co-op rotation at Rahway, NJ
• Candidate must have the ability to apply user-centered design, human factors, and risk management principles to product research, development, and design
• Candidate must have proven experience in conducting literature reviews as well as experience in selecting and implementing appropriate human factors/user experience research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, survey design, research study design)
• Candidate must have the ability to analyze and synthesize large quantities of information into usable communications, literature reviews and/or presentations
• Candidate must be able to demonstrate analytical skills and aptitude for quickly picking up advanced domain knowledge
• Candidate must have excellent communication skills (verbal, written, formal presentation) and proven ability to collaborate with and across various multidisciplinary teams within the organization

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Candidate having knowledge of medical devices, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or similar regulated industry, is a significant plus

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Learn how inputs from multiple stakeholders impact product design and development
• Stay current with industry relevant human factors best practices and research
• Identify new opportunities in human factors and drug delivery devices research
• Collaborate, network, as well as present on research to with cross-functional colleagues (engineering, marketing, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, quality, labeling, and more)
• Understand the regulatory imperatives for human factors, including relevant standards and guidances, to ensure compliance with the US and local regulatory policies for medical devices and combination products

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.

Who we are…

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for…

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

FTP2023

MRL2023

For positions located in the United States and Puerto Rico – Subject to applicable law, all new hires (including internal transfers) must demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement. New hires (including internal transfers) to a position that, as determined by the Company, requires routine collaboration with external stakeholders (such as roles in health services or customer-facing commercial or research-based roles) (“Customer-Facing Role”) who are not vaccinated must qualify for a medical or religious exemption and be in a position that the Company determines can accommodate unvaccinated employees without causing an undue burden to business operations. If, following dialog with the candidate as appropriate, it is determined that the candidate either a) does not qualify for a religious or medical exemption or, b) for candidates applying for Customer-Facing roles, it is determined that allowing the candidate to work without vaccination would cause an undue burden to the Company, the candidate will be ineligible for hire or transfer, or any offer of employment or transfer (if applicable) will be revoked. Please note that notwithstanding the approval of any reasonable accommodation, the Company reserves the right to monitor, modify, or revoke any such accommodation if it is determined, following dialog with the employee, that the accommodation is no longer effective or results in an undue burden to the Company.

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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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.

For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, 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. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Residents of Colorado:

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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. 

Employee Status:

Relocation:

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Flexible Work Arrangements:

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Requisition ID:R204003