MSD Leopardstown office
MSD's Leopardstown offices. Image via Connor McKenna

MSD’s culture places a premium on making a difference

19 Feb 2016

Usually, when you’re talking about biopharma companies, the only type of culture that springs to mind is biological. At MSD, however, that perception is turned on its head.

MSD – the European wing of Merck & Co – develops and produces medicines, vaccines and animal health products.

The biopharma firm, which recently announced 200 new jobs to be spread through its Irish facilities, has cultivated a people-centric culture of innovation, high performance and progression.

With a focus on career progression and agility, MSD is supportive of its employees.

Mairead Rice, a process and chemical engineering graduate working with MSD at its Dublin facility, speaks highly of that culture of support.

“No question is too small,” says Rice, before pointing out that the company’s supportive culture allows her to envisage a pathway of progression, and see a future career with the company.

MSD also encourages a culture of global collaboration, ensuring that the various research facilities work together to produce the best results. Ger Carmody – associate VP of operations and site lead at the company’s Ballydine, Tipperary, facility – calls this the ‘one MSD’ approach.

Most of all, though, MSD strives to make a difference. This encompasses everything from ensuring environmental sustainability to carrying out work in the community.

The culture of making a difference, however, is perhaps best exemplified by former employee William C Campbell, a recent winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Campbell, along with three other scientists, was awarded the prize for his work on the discovery of avermectins, which kill infection-causing roundworms.

In 1987, MSD announced that it would distribute ivermectin – its version of avermectin – for free, absolutely anywhere in the world where it was needed.

Learn about the MSD culture:

MSD is a headline sponsor of Career Zoo’s spring event, taking place this Saturday, 20 February, in The Convention Centre Dubin. They will be recruiting for a number of positions on the day. 

Looking for STEM jobs in Ireland? Check out our Featured Employers section for information on companies hiring right now.

Kirsty Tobin
By Kirsty Tobin

Kirsty Tobin served as careers editor of Silicon Republic from 2015 up to August 2017. When she was younger, she had a dream where she started and won a fight with a T-Rex, so she’s pretty sure she kicked butt at this, too. Passions include eating all the cake, watching more TV than is healthy and sassy comebacks.

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