[Hiring] Electronics R&D Graduate Program @The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Role Description

Maximize your potential at the intersection of artificial intelligence and advanced materials. This 2-year Functional Graduate Program offers an immersive rotation plan within EMD Electronics, international exposure, and direct engagement with senior management. Within EMD Electronics, you will work at the frontier of AI-driven materials discovery, building tools, models, and workflows that accelerate how the world's most advanced electronic materials are developed and deployed. You will receive expert mentorship, targeted training, and extensive networking opportunities to accelerate your professional and personal growth.

Throughout the program, you will gain broad exposure to R&D activities and multiple facets of electronics and materials science, including:

• Materials AI
• Materials Innovation
• Process Development

After a first assignment at your home base in the United States, you will undertake two additional assignments in other parts of our Electronics Business, including one international placement at a site within our global Electronics network. You will contribute to a diverse range of projects, broaden your perspective of the specialty chemistry and high-tech materials landscape, and collaborate across a global, culturally diverse organization.

Program Structure and Rotations

• Start: Spring 2027
• Duration: 2 years
• Rotations:
  • Assignment 1: Base location in United States (Branchburg, NJ; Carlsbad, CA; Hometown, PA; San Jose, CA; Sheboygan, WI; Tempe, AZ; or Remote)
  • Assignment 2: International placement within a different part of EMD Electronics
  • Assignment 3: Location in United States
• Objectives: Build deep expertise in AI/ML for materials science, develop cross-functional collaboration skills, and drive measurable innovation value for EMD Electronics through applied AI and hands-on project contributions
• Mentorship and development: Access to senior business mentors, targeted training sessions, and structured networking opportunities with the global R&D community

Key Responsibilities

• Actively participate in a structured 2-year rotation plan within EMD Electronics, including assignments at the home base in the United States and one international placement.
• Contribute to the development of new materials and applications across multiple product segments within specialty chemicals and high-tech materials.
• Apply data, digital, and AI/ML tools to accelerate innovation; examples include data automation workflows, machine learning models, computational modeling, and agentic AI development.
• Engage in diverse R&D activities spanning core areas such as Materials Innovation, Materials AI, and Process Development; translate scientific insights into actionable project outcomes.
• Plan, execute, and report on individual projects within assigned rotations, delivering milestones on time and within scope.
• Collaborate with bench scientists, process engineers, and product development teams to identify high-value opportunities for AI-driven acceleration; act as a bridge between data science and domain expertise.
• Present findings and model insights to senior management and cross-functional teams; participate in technical reviews and strategic decision-making forums.
• Gain hands-on exposure to the materials and chemistry domain across rotations — developing the scientific intuition needed to build AI tools that are grounded in physical and chemical reality.
• Demonstrate international adaptability by applying your AI/ML expertise across diverse cultural, organizational, and technical environments; build a global network of collaborators at the forefront of digital chemistry.
• Engage in professional development activities, training, and mentorship programs to accelerate your growth as a leader in AI for science.
• Demonstrate a proactive, collaborative mindset with a customer- and result-oriented focus, going the extra mile to ensure project success.

Qualifications

• Ph. D. or Master’s Degree in a STEM discipline (Computer Science, Computational Chemistry, Data Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, etc.) with graduation date in 2025 or 2026

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior internship, research, or project experience applying AI/ML in a scientific or industrial context
• International exposure
• Bilingual skills
• Demonstrated experience building and deploying machine learning models
• Proficiency in scientific Python, familiarity with cheminformatics tools
• Experience with LLMs, agentic AI, or foundation models for science
• Flexible, collaborative team player with a willingness to go the extra mile to drive projects to success
• Highly motivated with curiosity and passion for solving exciting challenges

Requirements

• This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Benefits

• Pay Range for this position - $89,200-$133,800/year
• Health insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Retirement contributions
• Other perquisites

Company Description

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!