Senior Principal Scientist, Translational Medicine, Immunology

Job Description

Translational Medicine in our Research & Development Division is responsible for planning and management of an important inflection point in the drug development process working closely with scientific regulatory statistical and modelling colleagues across the organization to translate the benchtop science of preclinical discovery into compounds ready for assessment in large clinical populations.

We are seeking a highly qualified physician-scientist with a proven track record in the pharmaceutical industry as well as independent academic research for a position in our group.

The preferred candidate will have at least 5-year experience in the pharmaceutical industry and Immunology R&D and clinical and academic expertise in Immunology-related areas such as Dermatology Rheumatology or Gastroenterology.

For our efforts supporting the Immunology development pipeline our closest collaborations are with groups-based Boston MA but will be open to other locations in West Point PA Upper Gwynned PA Rahway NJ or San Francisco CA.

Translational Medicine is specifically responsible for :

Contributing to the identification of novel targets by partnering with discovery research teams to bring a clinical insight into the earliest stages of target identification and validation and executing clinical studies to evaluate the relevance of potential targets to human disease in order to justify investment in full development

Development of biomarker strategies through cross-functional teams that provide line-of-sight from First-in-Human studies through clinical Proof-of-Concept. This includes Experimental Medicine studies to establish and / or validate novel clinical biomarker platforms.

Development and execution of the early clinical development strategy for novel therapy / Immunology programs from Preclinical Candidate approval through clinical Proof-of-Concept (Phase 2a) and development and execution of clinical pharmacology strategies for late-stage development programs from Proof-of-Concept (Phase 2a) through worldwide marketing application.

Success depends on the integrity knowledge imagination creativity skill diversity and teamwork of the people in the group. To this end we strive to create an environment of mutual respect encouragement and teamwork. As part of the global team you will collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues in Translational Medicine as well as Discovery Sciences and late-stage Clinical Research while developing and expanding your career.

This role will report directly to the Immunology Therapeutic Area Lead in Translational Medicine.

Primary responsibilities for the Senior Principal Scientist include the following :

Key member of an early development team providing leadership in designing and executing early clinical development strategy

Development and execution of early clinical strategy for novel Immunology assets and therapeutics including authoring initial clinical and biomarker plans for Lead Optimization programs early clinical development plans for Preclinical Candidate molecules Phase 1a / b trials and and clinical pharmacology studies for programs in Phases I through IV of development.

Development and execution of studies to validate clinical platforms utilizing established and novel biomarkers including imaging responses to interrogate biological activity in humans.

Provide clinical expertise for identification and validation of novel targets including the design of preclinical and / or clinical pharmacology experiments to validate targets and / or pathways

Safe and timely execution of Phase I studies; close collaboration with internal and external clinical study support staff and scientists (including discovery research biostatistics drug metabolism modeling and simulation regulatory affairs and global clinical trials operations)

Provide clinical pharmacology support for programs through the worldwide marketing application filing including supportive registration documents and presentations

Provide clear timely communication and interpretation of study results to therapeutic area governance functional area experts and development review committees.

Contribute to assessment of internal and external opportunities identified by Business Development and Licensing

Interface broadly with key functions including Discovery Sciences Preclinical Pharmacology Pharmaceutical Sciences Toxicology Translational Biomarkers Translational Medicine Operations Translational Medicine-EU Drug Metabolism / Modeling & Simulation Regulatory Affairs and late-stage Clinical Research throughout sites in the USA UK and Belgium.

Position Qualifications :

Education Minimum Requirement

MD or MD / PhD with at least 5-year experience in the pharmaceutical industry in clinical research or PhD with at least 10-years experience in clinical research or development

An educational / career track including both independently conceived and executed research and clinical patient care experience

Required Experience and Skills :

Proven track record in clinical research in the pharmaceutical industry

Proven track record in clinical care of patient populations or management of clinical problem-solving preferably in Dermatology

Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement. Research expertise in any immunology field is preferred.

Strong interpersonal writing and presentation skills as well as the ability to function in a team environment are essential.

Board Certification or Eligibility (MD and MD / PhD) preferred

Required Skills :

Academic Research Clinical Development Clinical Immunology Clinical Judgment Clinical Medicine Clinical Research Management Clinical Trial Development Clinical Trials Drug Development Immunology Intellectual Curiosity Pharmaceutical Industry Scientific Research Translational Research

Preferred Skills :

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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 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

$206200.00 - $324600.00

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 employees 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 can apply for this role through (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

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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 :

11 / 18 / 2025

• 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.

Required Experience :

Staff IC

Key Skills

Machine Learning,Python,Data Science,AI,R,Research Experience,Sensors,Drug Discovery,Research & Development,Natural Language Processing,Data Analysis Skills,Toxicology Experience

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary Salary : 206200 - 324600