Sr. Scientist, Preclinical Dev.

Job Description

Senior Scientist – Downstream Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Applications are sought for an opportunity in the Vaccine and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D department, which is part of the our company's Research Labs division. The individual will support our company's downstream process development efforts for Vaccine programs at West Point, PA.

Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D is responsible for the development and clinical manufacturing of Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product Intermediates (DPI) for the vaccine and advanced therapy pipeline, spanning from preclinical to commercialization stages. Our vaccines downstream process development team develops safe, scalable, robust, cost-effective downstream processes that enable clinical and commercial manufacture of vaccines and adjuvants across all vaccine modalities.

We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced Senior Scientist to join us at our research and development site in West Point, PA. The candidate will be responsible for scientific/technical contributions and leadership of high-throughput process development (HTPD), and will also be a critical member of cross-functional program/project teams

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as an individual scientific contributor to deliver high throughput process development (HTPD) solutions to process teams and to conduct microscale screening experiments as required to drive vaccine process development.

• Contribute to a range of specific activities including, but not limited to: (1) developing HTPD workflows and associated high-throughput analytics; (2) driving screening experiments for reaction biochemistry, filtration and chromatography development; (3) identifying opportunities to utilize HTPD to enhance process understanding; (4) implementing and maintaining robotic systems with liquid-handling hardware and (5) programming of robotic systems, user interfaces, and automated data analysis operations.

• Analysis of experiments through analytical techniques including HPLC, light scattering, and spectroscopy.

• Data interpretation and presentation, manuscript/patent preparation.

The candidate should be self-motivated, well-organized, have strong problem-solving skills, and be able to think strategically.  The individual should also be adaptable, demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn new techniques.  The individual will be expected to demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team and have excellent communication skills in both verbal and written formats.  They are also expected to demonstrate flexibility in responding to changing priorities or dealing with unexpected events. In addition to the core responsibilities outlined above, the candidate will be expected to keep careful notes, comply with all required training, and maintain a focused attention on laboratory safety. 

Position may require working with infectious agents, pathogens, and/or potent compounds with appropriate engineering controls and PPE. Some travel or off-hours work may be required.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

BS, MS or PhD in engineering or bio/chemical sciences:

• Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology

• For BS candidates, at least six (6) years of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology-related position

• For MS candidates, at least three (3) years of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology-related position

• For PhD candidates, at least one (1) year of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology-related position

Required Experience and Skills:

• Relevant working experience in identifying and implementing HTPD solutions for application to large biomolecule process development (e.g. viral vectors, vaccines, therapeutic proteins).

• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in the process development of large biomolecules including vaccines or therapeutic proteins.

• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in a general-purpose programming language (e.g. VB/VBA, Python, C++, Matlab), and/or strong expertise in laboratory automation (e.g. Tecan, Hamilton, HighRes) and related software and computational tools

• Strong technical background in downstream (e.g. chromatography, membrane filtration operations, biochemistry reaction) unit operations for large biomolecules

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Direct experience with live virus operations and thorough knowledge of established safety practices for working with such organisms including hands-on experience with Biosafety Level 2 operations.

• Experience and understanding of large biomolecule analytical techniques, including HPLC, biochemical mix-and-read assays, spectroscopic & microscopic imaging methods, etc.

• Demonstrated project management skill

Required Skills:

Collaboration, Data Analysis, High-Throughput Screening, Problem Solving, Process Optimization

Preferred Skills:

Leadership, Protein Purifications, Research and Development

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

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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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

05/1/2026

*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.