Sr. Scientist, Discovery Oncology

Job Description

We are seeking a highly qualified scientist with a strong background in oncology to join our Discovery Oncology team in Boston. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of innovative, collaborative, and rigorous research. Primary responsibilities include providing scientific leadership from the bench, combining deep cancer biology expertise with creativity and rigor to drive the experimental strategy, and effectively communicating with multidisciplinary teams in the early discovery pipeline.

The specific responsibilities of the candidate include but are not limited to:

• Scientific leadership through the development and implementation of multiple impactful experimental approaches, technologies, or capabilities to drive target validation, pathway interrogation, and mechanistic studies

• Contribute to therapeutic mechanistic understanding, biomarker discovery, and preclinical candidate characterization

• Monitor, review and critically interpret published literature to guide internal research

• Effectively communicate experimental findings to appropriate stakeholders.

• Leverage broad scientific expertise and deep domain knowledge to influence scientific direction

Education:

• PhD or equivalent in oncology, biology, biochemistry, immunology, or related STEM discipline and 0 years of experience; MS with 5+ yrs of experience; OR BS with 7+ yrs working experience in a pharma or biotech setting.

Required:

• Demonstrated ability to work independently to create and drive experimental strategy, interpret data, troubleshoot, and define critical next steps.

• Strong experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques with an emphasis on mammalian cell culture, western blot, ELISA/Mesoscale, flow cytometry, qPCR, stable cell line generation, CRISPR.

• Strong team player and experienced working with collaborative cross functional teams.

Preferred experience and skills:

• Previous experience working with different therapeutic modalities.

• Experience integrating data from multiple experimental approaches to build mechanistic understanding, generate hypotheses, and connect experimental findings to broader program objectives to enable effective decision-making across stakeholders

• Prior oncology research experience

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Biology, Cancer Therapy, Cell Culture Techniques, Design of Experiments (DOE), Drug Target Identification, Flow Cytometry, Immunoassays, Independent Thinking, Mechanism of Action, Molecular Biology, Oncology, Target Discovery

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

$119,100.00 - $187,500.00

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Standard lab reagents, BSL2, OEB4, OEB5, Bloodborne pathogens

Job Posting End Date:

09/15/2026

*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.