Job Description

Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to use innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust scientific methodology, we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.

As an Associate Principal Scientist in the multiscale separations team within the Separations Sciences team of Analytical Enabling Capabilities, you will work within a highly collaborative team to enable the advancement of the development pipeline. You will be primarily responsible for developing analytical and preparative methods for small molecule pharmaceuticals but also peptides, protein-based therapeutics, and emerging modalities. You will work side by side with (bio)process scientists to deploy innovative separation, analysis, and characterization strategies to accelerate the development of new medicines and vaccines. To accelerate the development of new medicines and vaccines, you will partner with bioprocess and analytical scientists to deploy efficient and fit-for-purpose bio/chemical isolation methods, establish innovative purification workflows, and to deliver high purity and enriched materials to enable additional characterization. As a member of our team, you will be joining a group of scientific problem solvers, who are dedicated to creating the life-changing products of tomorrow.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. in biochemistry/chemistry or a related field with 3-5 years of experience in biopharmaceutical industry or related industry.

• M.S. with a minimum of 8 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical or related industry

Required Experience and Skills:

• Hands-on experience with HPLC/UPLC method development for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as well as peptides/proteins as applicable.

• Bio separation techniques for mAbs/ADCs, including Protein A/affinity capture, ion exchange (CEX/AEX), size exclusion (SEC), hydrophobic interaction (HIC), and reversed-phase chromatography.

• Protein purification experience for mAbs/ADCs (analytical and preparative), including capture/polishing chromatography, fraction collection, desalting/buffer exchange, and yield/purity assessment.

• Sample preparation and handling for mAbs/ADCs (e.g., minimizing adsorption/degradation, controlling free drug carryover, appropriate buffers/excipients, filtration/centrifugation, and storage conditions).

• Experience with mAb/ADC characterization (e.g., identity, purity/impurities, aggregation/fragmentation, charge variants, and drug-related attributes) using LC and orthogonal techniques.

• For ADCs: experience with key analytical readouts such as drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) and free drug/payload-related impurities (e.g., using HIC, RP-LC, and/or LC-MS)

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Deep appreciation of the interplay between chemical structure and physical properties.

• Analytical and preparative purification techniques, target isolation and characterization tools (Prep chromatography, MS etc.).

• Familiarity with biophysical/biochemical characterization techniques for proteins (e.g., SEC-MALS, CE, icIEF, DLS, SDS-PAGE).

• Familiarity with mAb/ADC structural characterization workflows (e.g., intact and/or subunit LC-MS, reduced/non-reduced analyses, peptide mapping and glycan profiling).

• Knowledge of multidimensional separation techniques (2DLC)

#AR&D

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Method Development, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Assay Development, Biological Assay Development, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Cell-Based Assays, Centrifugation, Chromatographic Techniques, Chromatography, Column Chromatography, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Design Management, External Collaboration, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Mentorship, Optimism, Peptide Mapping, Physical Properties {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

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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

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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:

04/26/2026

*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.