Senior Scientist, Cell Based Sciences

Job Description

Senior Scientist Cell Based Sciences Vaccines

The Analytical Research and Development team in West Point, PA is seeking an exceptional scientist who is passionate about innovative science and analytical solutions that enable and accelerate process and product development. The Senior Scientist within the department of Cell Based Sciences will join our vaccines team in West Point, PA.

The Senior Scientist will play a key role with the primary focus on the design, execution, and interpretation of method development, optimization, and transfer of cell-based assays and immunoassays for drug substance and drug product release, stability studies, and in-depth product characterization to support our vaccine pipeline. Responsibilities include building and implementing new assay platforms and benchmarking current approaches and techniques to the industry standards. These assays are expected to robustly reflect the mechanism of action (MoA) of vaccine candidates across the pipeline.

The successful candidate will be expected to work independently, communicate results effectively in presentations to stakeholders in partner organizations or at external scientific meetings, to author technical reports, to advise junior scientists, and to participate in cross-functional teams. The individual will enable and accelerate vaccine process development by applying cellular biology, virology, and immunology expertise.

The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of relevant biological mechanisms and assay principles, and extensive experience with a broad range of methods and technologies used to access vaccine MoA and potency, with particular emphasis on cell-based assay and immunoassay development. Experience working in a GxP regulated laboratory environment (routine sample testing, documentation, and data verification) and experience with cell line engineering are highly desirable.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirements:

• B.S degree with 6+ years of experience,

• M.S. degree with 4+ years of experience or

• Ph.D. degree in immunology, cell biology, bioengineering, biological sciences, biochemistry, virology, microbiology, or related field with experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in cell-based bioassay development for vaccines, with a deep understanding of mechanisms of action and assay principles.

• Scientific and technical expertise in cellular immunology and humoral / cell-mediated responses to vaccines.

• Hands-on experience with a range of biological, immunological, and biochemical techniques (e.g., cell-based assays, reporter gene assays, ELISA, flow cytometry-based assays, qPCR, or imaging, etc.) for immunological and cell-based assay development.

• Experience working with mammalian cell lines and BSL2 level biological agents.

• A strong team player with excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to work independently.

• Strong ability to deliver on complex objectives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Proficiency with data analysis and statistical software such as JMP, curve-fitting software such as PLA, SoftMax Pro, or GraphPad Prism, and data trending software such as Spotfire.

• Experience with assay qualification/validation, including establishing range, accuracy, intermediate precision, and repeatability according to ICH guidelines.

• Prior experience in bringing and applying innovative technologies suitable for bioassay development such as cell line engineering, stable clone generation, cell banking, and cell imaging.

• Working knowledge of statistical approaches such as design of experiments (DoE) in developing potency assays to identify sources of assay variability, developing operating ranges within an assay procedure that keep assay variability at a minimum.

• Experience working in a regulated environment, following standard operating procedures (SOPs), real-time documentation of experimental work, and attention to detail.

• Experience with automation of assays

• Working knowledge of regulatory and industry guidelines for Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (CMC).

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Analytical Method Development, Assay Development, Bioanalytical Analysis, Biochemical Assays, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Cell-Based Assays, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Gene Reporter Assays, Immunoassays, Immunochemistry, Innovative Thinking, Mammalian Cell, Microbiology, Strategic Thinking, Technical Writing, Virology

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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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

blood borne pathogens

Job Posting End Date:

05/8/2026

*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.