Associate Principal Scientist: Molecular Modeling, Analytical Research & Develop

Job Description

Associate Principal Scientist: Molecular Modeling, Analytical Research & Development

Our Scientists are our Inventors. We deliver robust scientific data and interpretation that drives the commercialization of breakthrough therapeutics using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and modern equipment. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of people like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing your career.

The Analytical Research & Development organization in Rahway, NJ, Boston, MA, or West Point, PA is seeking a motivated Associate Principal Scientist with technical expertise in atomistic modeling of drug substance and drug formulations with an ability to apply predictive sciences to support pipeline of antibodies, small molecules, peptides, biologics, conjugates, and vaccines. This role will allow the candidate to solve complex scientific challenges through application of data modeling, analysis, and visualization tools. Initial focus will be related to modeling of antibodies and small molecule drug formulations. The successful candidate is expected to collaboratively work with synthetic, formulation, computational, and analytical scientists, understand their problem statements, and collaboratively implement and apply predictive science solutions. The candidate must be able to work proactively and independently and influence decisions and solutions spanning a wide diversity of problem statements across Research Laboratories. The role will require the candidate to network across a range of departments and effectively collaborate with stakeholders. The candidate should exemplify positive ways of working which support diversity, inclusion, and a positive culture. The chosen candidate should have a demonstrated ability to publish and present research, including an established track record of interaction with the broader scientific community.

Establishing data workflows, data visualizations, and predictive tools to enable more effective identification, characterization, and development of novel medicines and vaccines is a key objective for our company. This position sits within the Digital Sciences team in the Analytical Enabling Capabilities sub-department of Analytical Research & Development. You will be part of a team working collaboratively across a wide range of areas impacting all aspects of the drug discovery and development pipeline. A diverse array of projects spanning data curation to data analysis to predictive sciences will be encountered in this role. The core Digital Sciences team works with a networked group of digital champions across AR&D and has close connectivity to other digital facing teams across Research Laboratories including critical IT collaborators.

Primary Responsibilities

• Expert execution of atomistic molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations

• Helping to coordinate best practices in atomistic modeling across departments

• Application of predictive approaches to address scientific problems across analytical characterization techniques

• Application of data science workflows to address pipeline challenges across all modalities

• Application and generation of data analysis, and visualization workflows

• Input on development of dashboards, reports, and data exports

• Influence definition of digital strategy

• Meet with collaborators to collect requirements

• Manage projects and timelines

• Presentation of updates to collaborators

Education Requirements

• A Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely-related field with at least 4 years of relevant experience

• A M.S. in Computational Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely-related field with at least 6 years of relevant experience

• A B.S. in Computational Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely-related field with at least 8 years of relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills

• Expertise in atomistic modeling (direct experience with antibodies and at least one other modality: small molecules, peptides, biologics, conjugates, and vaccines)

• Expertise in executing molecular dynamics simulations of multi-component systems

• Expertise across multiple computational modeling platforms such as: Maestro, MOE, OpenEye, Gaussian, ORCA, etc.

• Familiar with programming in R and/or Python and Posit/RStudio/Jupyter

• Experience with one or more data visualization tools (Shiny, Spotfire, Dash, PowerBI, Streamlit, or Tableau)

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills

• Work independently and be able to collaborate as a team

• Strive for continuous improvement and suggest innovative solutions to scientists’ common challenges

• Insatiable curiosity to learn with the end goal of understanding the scientific problem statement and designing programs, software, or solutions to meet the end users’ needs

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Multi-scale modeling including coarse grained molecular dynamics

• Machine learning

• Experience with pharmaceutical drug product development involving formulation design

• Knowledge of development of chemical matter across one or more modalities

• Track record of impact in the pharmaceutical industry with relevant examples directed towards pipeline objectives

• Development of dashboards, reports, and data exports

• Scientific supervisory experience related to guiding the work of junior scientists.

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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

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

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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.

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