Alan Northrup recently earned his Ph.D. from Cal Tech and, fresh out of school, joined MRL Boston’s medicinal chemistry group. One of his first assignments? Mentoring a summer intern through the United Negro College Fund (UNCF)-Merck Science Initiative, a collaborative effort that was launched in 1996. “This is my first time mentoring someone,” said Northrop. Since its inception, nearly 300 fellows have participated in this program.

MRL Boston supports a variety of science education initiatives that are fostering the growth of the next generation of scientists, including mobile laboratories that bring hands-on learning experiences to Boston’s public school children, and expanding the pool of world-class African-American biomedical scientists.

Surrounded by many of the world’s leading academic research centers and hospitals, MRL Boston’s commitment to science education is forged in the heart of the medical community. Merck has made science education a priority in the communities where its employees live and work, and these initiatives are consistent with the Company’s longstanding commitment to scientific innovation.

“We need all the available talent to ensure that the very best minds are engaged and working toward scientific advances that can make a real difference in all of our lives,” said Merck’s CEO Dick Clark. Teaming a young scientist like Alan Northrup with a UNCF intern helps build that dynamic mix of talented people needed to accelerate that search.