Associate Principal Scientist, Infectious Disease - Molecular Microbiology
Apply NowCompany: Merck & Co, Inc
Location: West Point, PA 19486
Description:
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Associate Principal 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 antimicrobial therapies. The candidate will independently design, execute on, and have the opportunity to lead research programs to interrogate microbial biology, host-pathogen interactions, and immunological responses to control and clear infection using various cell-based assays and in vivo disease models. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in molecular genetics, synthetic biology, bacteriology, virology, and/or immunology. Beyond primary responsibilities conducting bench research to drive programs with decision-making data, the incumbent will have the opportunity to coach and mentor individuals, participate in departmental and network-wide activities including resource-management and external engagement, as well as communicate with governance committees and external collaborators. Finally, the incumbent will be responsible for driving employee engagement within Discovery. 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:
REQUIRED SKILLS:
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
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".
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:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
05/27/2025
*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.
We are seeking an experienced Associate Principal 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 antimicrobial therapies. The candidate will independently design, execute on, and have the opportunity to lead research programs to interrogate microbial biology, host-pathogen interactions, and immunological responses to control and clear infection using various cell-based assays and in vivo disease models. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in molecular genetics, synthetic biology, bacteriology, virology, and/or immunology. Beyond primary responsibilities conducting bench research to drive programs with decision-making data, the incumbent will have the opportunity to coach and mentor individuals, participate in departmental and network-wide activities including resource-management and external engagement, as well as communicate with governance committees and external collaborators. Finally, the incumbent will be responsible for driving employee engagement within Discovery. 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:
- PhD or equivalent w/3+ yr working experience in Infectious Disease or a related discipline in a pharma, biotech or academic setting (MS or BS w/10+ yr working experience)
REQUIRED SKILLS:
- Highly skilled in microbial molecular genetics and synthetic biology applied to bacteria, fungi, and/or viruses (in particular HIV).
- Proficient in nucleic acid construct design, cloning, and cell line generation, in particular reporter cell lines.
- Microbiological expertise with demonstrated rigorous productive research in investigating host interactions, innate and adaptive immunity, and/or pathogenesis.
- Expertise in a range of microbial, molecular and cellular techniques, including in vitro and in vivo disease models.
- Keen awareness and demonstrated application of emerging biology and new technologies.
- Demonstrated past successful project leadership and building collaborative multidisciplinary teams to implement and execute scientific strategy.
- Knowledgeable in drug discovery and translational research.
- Solid computer skills, independent experimental design and execution, and analytical problem-solving capabilities.
- Good communication (verbal & writing) skills with a track record of publications.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Previous experience managing, coaching, and developing direct reports.
- Multi-parameter Flow cytometry and ICS.
- Microscopy and image analysis.
- 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.
- Immunological and molecular techniques, with experience designing in vivo experiments and analyzing immunological and vaccine responses.
- In vitro and ex-vivo probing of tissues for host-pathogen responses using imaging or spatial transcriptomics.
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
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".
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:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
05/27/2025
*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.