Job Description

Job Description

The Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD) Discovery Biology department at our Research & Development Division is seeking a highly innovative and rigorous Associate Principal Scientist with deep expertise in cardiovascular and renal (cardio-renal) disease biology. The successful candidate will provide scientific leadership for one or more discovery programs, driving work from mechanistic pathway discovery and target identification through target validation and translational strategy. This role sits at the interface of in vivo discovery biology (primary emphasis) and human genetics/omics-enabled target discovery and translational biomarker strategy, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to generate decision-grade data packages for program advancement.

Key Responsibilities

In vivo discovery biology leadership

• Lead the design, execution, and/or oversight of in vivo studies in relevant renal and cardiovascular disease models (e.g., CKD/DKD, inflammation/fibrosis, heart failure, vascular dysfunction, ASCVD-relevant biology), including rigorous experimental design and quantitative phenotyping.

• Develop and implement end-to-end in vivo pharmacology/biology strategies to evaluate target hypotheses and therapeutic concepts; ensure high-quality data generation, analysis, and reporting.

• Establish and/or oversee complementary in vitro and ex vivo assays (e.g., primary cell systems, iPSC-derived cells, 2D/3D models, organoid or co-culture systems) to connect mechanism-of-action to in vivo biology and support program progression.

Human genetics, omics & translational strategy

• Drive target discovery and validation strategies integrating human genetics and multi-omics (e.g., bulk and single‑cell transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) data in partnership with computational and data science colleagues.

• Leverage functional genomics and perturbation approaches (e.g., CRISPR/siRNA screening, AAV-mediated gene modulation) and advanced imaging/phenotyping modalities to interrogate biology and generate causal evidence for targets.

• Define and advance translational biomarker strategies (target engagement, pharmacodynamic, patient stratification) to support preclinical-to-clinical translation.

Program leadership & collaboration

• Serve as a key scientific driver or biology project lead, defining strategy, milestones, and inflection points to enable timely go/no-go decisions.

• Collaborate in a matrix environment with chemistry, biologics, DMPK, quantitative biosciences, translational medicine, safety, clinical, commercial, and data science.

• Lead and manage external collaborations and CRO work packages, ensuring scientific rigor and delivery of objectives.

• Communicate complex data clearly through written and oral presentations to project teams, senior leadership, and governance committees.

• Mentor and/or manage scientists; uphold strong documentation, safety, and compliance standards.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Minimum: BS degree (with 12+ years), MS degree (with 8+ years).

• Preferred: Ph.D. (with 4+ years of relevant experience in academia and/or industry).

Required Skills

• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and drive in vitro and vivo studies in renal and/or cardiovascular disease biology.

• Deep, current understanding of cardiovascular, renal, and /or cardiometabolic disease pathophysiology and the ability to translate mechanistic insights into therapeutic hypotheses and testable experimental plans.

• Experience integrating human genetics and/or omics data to inform target selection, validation, and translational strategy.

• Proven leadership of discovery research programs (target discovery through robust in vivo/in vitro validation), in a matrixed, cross-functional discovery environment with a track record of delivering decision-grade data and advancing programs toward candidate nomination and/or IND-enabling studies.

• Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills, including delivery of decision-grade data to senior governance.

• Demonstrated experience in mentoring and/or managing scientists

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with functional genomics approaches such as CRISPR or siRNA perturbation.

• Experience partnering with computational, AI/ML, and data science teams for omics analysis and biomarker discovery.

• Expertise in translational biomarker strategy development (target engagement, pharmacodynamic, and patient stratification biomarkers) and in bridging discovery readouts to early clinical translation.

• Track record of external scientific impact through publications, patents, and/or invited presentations.

• Experience supporting multiple therapeutic modalities and/or modality selection strategies.

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Biochemical Assays, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cell Biology, Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented, Ethical Compliance, High-Throughput Screening, Immunology, In Vivo Experiment, Mammalian Cell Culture, Molecular Biology, Omics, Protein Expression, Renal Physiology, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

$159,600.00 - $251,200.00

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

03/4/2026

*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.