Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Associate Principal Scientist with a strong background in supporting in vitro pharmacology for early drug discovery to join the External Quantitative Biosciences group (ExQB).

Under the broad direction of a Principal Scientist in ExQB, the candidate will support the execution of externalized In vitro biology projects across all discovery sites in our Research and Development division's disease areas, as well as participate in relationship management of Contract Research Organizations (CRO). The ideal candidate will be an experienced in vitro biology bench scientist and team player with experience supporting collaborations across a broad range of discovery biology disciplines. In collaboration with Quantitative Biosciences (QB), this individual will effectively assess and grow our external early discovery in vitro biology capabilities to drive pipeline support in line with our company's broader externalization strategies. Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, as well as ability to network, apply soft skills, operate in the ‘grey space’, and apply excellent interpersonal skills are crucial to success in this role.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Relying on in vitro biology lab bench experience, partner with pharmacologists from QB and scientists from other discovery functions to define and challenge resource demands and support the continued build of strategies, workflows, and capability builds at strategic CRO partners to support screening and external reagent generation in a rapidly changing environment.

• Provide tactical and scientific support to transfer in vitro pharmacology/biology screening funnels, assays, technology, and processes in alignment with the unified screening strategy shared between ExQB, External Discovery Chemistry and DMPK outsourcing teams to maintain and improve Design, Make, Test, Analyze (DMTA) cycle time.

• Plan and participate in partner site visits to evaluate in vitro biology workflows, practices, capabilities, safety procedures and compliance standards, as well as build and optimize workflows to complement internal company processes, including working with our company's IT to enable data transfer.

• Oversee partner scientific workflows, and together with Discovery Operations team and procurement, manage the business relationship between our company and CROs through various governance meetings, processes, and performance feedback.

• Work closely with Procurement and Business Development & Licensing teams to support business sourcing management and licensing needs by scientifically representing in vitro biology sourcing needs.

• Routinely gather, categorize, and translate external resource demand across in vitro biology disciplines and share with Finance and Discovery Operations to manage and update spend forecasts

Required Experience and Skills:

• While this is not a lab-based position, this role requires substantial bench-level experience and expertise in in vitro biology/pharmacology. As such, a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BS) in Biology, In Vitro Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Science, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related STEM discipline with 8+ years of relevant industry lab experience, a Master's Degree (MA/MBA/MS) with 6+ years of relevant industry lab experience, or a PhD with 4+ years of relevant industry lab experience is required.

• Lab-based expertise in applying plate-based In Vitro pharmacology principles and best practices across multiple disease areas with experience in designing, interpreting, and troubleshooting studies, as well as significant experience in performing automated plate-based assays for DMTA/SAR support in a time-critical fashion is needed.

• Working understanding of global pharmaceutical and CRO industries with a solid understanding of drug discovery, as well understanding pharmacology’s role within drug discovery.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Expertise in biochemistry/protein biochemistry, biophysics, and/or molecular biology is strongly preferred

• Strong understanding of in vitro pharmacology business standards including data QC, protocol design, laboratory processes and best-practices, as well as safety standards.

• Expertise in cell pharmacology, lab automation, and/or discovery biomarker research including -omics

• A minimum of 3 years in managing CRO relationships or equivalent relationship management role.

• Established network within our company, as well as Strategic CROs, and biotech / large pharma.

• Successful track record of working with multiple functional groups or teams across cultural and geographic boundaries.

The location can be at any of our company's East Coast Research Laboratory locations (Research and Development Division) including Boston MA, Cambridge MA, Rahway NJ, or West Point PA sites.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Assay, Assay Development, Biochemical Assays, Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Detail-Oriented, Drug Discovery Process, Ethical Compliance, High-Throughput Screening, Innovation, In Vitro Pharmacology, In Vitro Research, In Vitro Studies, Leadership, Mammalian Cell Culture, Managing Ambiguity, Molecular Biology, Professional Networking, Protein Expression, Stakeholder Management {+ 2 more}

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

$144,800.00 - $227,900.00

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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Biological and chemical

Job Posting End Date:

02/3/2026

*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.