Senior Scientist, Biology-Discovery

Job Description

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Scientist to join the Infectious Disease and Vaccines department at our research site in West Point, PA. The candidate will have a primary role on a team responsible for the discovery and development of novel antiviral treatments, with a particular focus on HIV. The candidate will independently design and execute hands-on experiments to interrogate fundamental virus biology, virus-host interactions, and immunological responses using various biochemical and cell-based assays and in vivo disease models. The candidate should have a strong background in virology, translational animal models, immunoassay and genomic technologies, cell biology, animal pharmacology, and general knowledge of infectious disease drug development and T cell biology. We value creative-thinking, teamwork, and independent analytical problem solving. If you are a highly motivated team player with a strong desire to impact basic research and translational medicine, we invite you to consider joining our team.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

 

BS/BA degree in Biology or Biomedical Sciences with a minimum 7 years of experience in industry and/or academia, or a MS degree in Biology or Biomedical Sciences with 4 years of experience in industry and or academia, or PhD with >1-year postdoctoral experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Highly skilled in virology with expertise in a range of virological, molecular and cellular techniques, including in vitro and in vivo disease models.
• Experience with rodent handling and small-animal procedures, including injections (IP, SQ, IV, PO), blood sampling (IV, RO), and tissue collection and analysis.
• Proficiency in HIV biology, including latency, and demonstrated rigorous productive research in investigative viral replication, virus-host interactions, innate and adaptive immunity, and HIV pathogenesis.
• Proven track record in immunological and molecular techniques, including cell culture and T-cell purifications, virus production, ELISA, flow cytometry, PCR, and has experience with animal pharmacology.
• Knowledgeable in drug discovery and translational research.
• Good communication (verbal & writing) skills with a track record of publications.
• Solid computer skills, independent experimental design and execution, analytical problem-solving capabilities, and ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Keen awareness of emerging biology and new technologies.

 

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Multi-parameter Flow cytometry and ICS. Experience with instruments including BD Symphony, LSR II, and FACSARIA and Sony SH800 desirable.
• Knowledge of biomarker discovery and assay development as it relates to infectious diseases and immune responses, particularly 10X genomics or other immuno-profiling platform experience.
• In vitro and ex-vivo probing of tissues for host-pathogen responses using biochemical methods, cell-based assays, and in vivo disease models, particularly for infectious disease.

Required Skills:

Animal Models, Antiviral Drugs, Assay Development, Biochemical Assays, Biomarkers, Cell Culture Techniques, Drug Target Identification, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Flow Cytometry, Immunoassays, Immunology, Infectious Disease Research, In Vitro Research, In Vivo Models, Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis, Tissue Collection, Transcriptomics, Virology

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

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:

10/8/2026

*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.