Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where our company has codified its legacy for over a century. Our company's success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Today, we’re doubling down on this goal to take our company's leading discovery capabilities and world-class small molecule and biologics R&D expertise to create breakthrough science that radically changes the way we approach serious diseases.

The Discovery Biologics Department is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist with expertise in cell free expression techniques to support our biologics pipeline. At our company's Research Laboratories, we believe innovations at the intersection of machine learning and HTP experimentation will transform the way we bring new therapies to patients. Our organization seeks to directly integrate computational and wet-lab researchers with state-of-the-art automation to accelerate the discovery, engineering, and characterization of novel biologics. We are a highly diverse and collaborative group of researchers working at the edge of computation, disease biology, and biotherapeutics. We collaborate broadly within our Research & Development Division, and with academic and industry partners to accelerate the pace of biologics discovery.

This role will be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and will work collaboratively with scientists and teams across our company's research sites. The successful candidate will identify, develop and deploy state-of-the-art expression technologies that enable the high throughput production of therapeutic proteins in nano and micro-scale quantities to enable rapid Design-Make-Test-Learn cycles. They will contribute to and lead efforts to develop novel microfluidic, flow based, and/or chip-based methods for ultra-high throughput protein production and characterization. They will partner with our protein production, characterization, and engineering groups, as well as with project teams to develop and implement novel solutions to impact our pipeline.

Optimal candidates will also have experience with, or a demonstrated passion for, biotherapeutic drug discovery and will be motivated by opportunities to work on discovery teams focused on engineering biologics molecules. They will mentor, coach, and train group members in novel production and characterization methods. The successful candidate will collaborate broadly with project teams spanning machine learning, data science, protein engineering, and preclinical developability. They will contribute to program reviews and updates to senior leadership. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary group of innovative researchers who are driving the next revolution in biologics discovery and engineering.

We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement cell free expression technologies to enable the production of therapeutic proteins in nano and microscale quantities.

• Collaborate across Discovery Biologics to implement cell free expression technologies as a key capability leveraged by project teams to impact the Discovery Biologic’s pipeline.

• Work collaboratively to develop novel protein production and characterization systems to enable rapid, data rich analysis of 103-106 proteins.

• Contribute to and lead the authoring of patents and external publications.

• Present research findings at group meetings, project meetings, and at external meetings.

• Actively develop talent, strategically maximize diversity to complement and strengthen our team.

• Foster a high-performance culture of collaboration, engagement, self-accountability and inclusion.

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Bioengineering, Structural Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline with demonstrated expertise in cell free expression technologies and 4 years of industry experience; MS 8 or BS 12 years of industry experience.

• Experience implementing cell free expression systems to solve complex research challenges.

• Experience working collaboratively to develop and implement novel technologies.

• A desire to teach and educate colleagues on how to use cell free expression methods and other novel technologies.

• A demonstrated passion for team building and a track record of talent development.

• A champion for diverse and inclusive cultures.

Required skills:

• Broad scientific knowledge across protein production and characterization.

• Deep knowledge and experience with cell free expression systems.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Preferred skills:

• Experience developing microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip, or flow-based research.

• Fluency in a modern programming language such as C , Python, or similar.

• Experience will laboratory automation such as Tecan, Biomek, Hamilton, or similar.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

#EligibleforERP

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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”.

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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

• 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.

Job Posting End Date:05/27/2024

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.

Requisition ID:R294274