Scientist - In Vivo

Job Description

Our company's South San Francisco research laboratory is seeking an innovative drug hunter with a strong in vivo background in biology or metabolism to join the cardiometabolic disease department as an Associate Scientist. The individual will perform experiments in the laboratory with minimal guidance and supervision. The successful candidate will design, execute, and interpret complex in vivo/ex vivo/in vitro studies to support target identification, validation, and therapeutic development. The successful candidate will also possess a strong sense of intellectual curiosity to expand their technical expertise at the bench, as well as effective written and interpersonal communication skills to explain complex experiments and biological concepts to a broader scientific team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish key assays and model systems, suitable for the mechanistic investigation of potential targets, as well as evaluation of therapeutic candidates.

• In vivo dosing, bleeding, and handling of small laboratory animals

• Perform molecular biology, cellular biology, cell-based assay, and ex vivo sample processing and analysis.

• Design, perform, troubleshoot, document, analyze and interpret assigned research, with minimal supervision, to support exploratory activities as well as project focused goals.

• Scour and critically evaluate current literature to identify opportunities for new and existing programs.

• Work independently in executing tightly controlled experiments, analyzing data, and presenting to teams within the disease area. 

• Solve complex problems by undertaking innovative approaches and applying state-of-the art technologies. 

NOTE: This role will be required to work on weekends in a shifted work-week schedule (Tuesday - Saturday / Sunday - Thursday)

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor's (with 3+ years) or Master's in chemical biology, molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, biology or other related scientific discipline and relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: target validation, in-vivo model development or adipose biology.

• Experience with handling, dosing (oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intravenous), and bleeding small laboratory animals.

• Experience working with human as well as pre-clinical tissues and primary cell lines.

• Experience with standard molecular biology techniques (western blotting, qPCR, etc).

• Works independently and is able to simultaneously handle a diverse workload with strong organizational and time management skills.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to work flexibly in a dynamic team environment. 

• Scientific curiosity, analytical mindset with a drive to own a project to understand biology, mechanism of action, and drive it through the discovery pipeline. 

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior industry experience
• Experience in target identification, muscle biology or immunology in the context of metabolic disease

#EligibleforERP 

Required Skills:

Cell Biology, Cell Culture Techniques, Dosing, In Vivo Models, In Vivo Studies, Molecular Biology Techniques, Primary Cells, Target Validation

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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The salary range for this role is

$108,000.00 - $170,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
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:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

05/21/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.