Senior Scientist, Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job Description

Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) is a multidisciplinary research group that enables drug discovery and drug product development through application of pharmaceutical science to drug delivery research from target identification through clinical candidate selection for both small and large molecules as well as vaccines. DPS influences molecular design of these clinical candidates through physicochemical property profiling and application of insights to better understand and resolve drug product developability risks. Our deliverables include identification of oral and parenteral preclinical formulations for pharmacology and toxicology studies across modalities (small molecules, peptides, biologics, and vaccines). We closely collaborate with other key functions required for selection and progression of clinical candidates, including Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Safety, Process Research, Vaccine Development, Analytical Research, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. In aggregate, our team enables the transition of optimized molecules from discovery to clinical formulation development with clinical formulation strategies in place.

Primary Responsibilities

DPS in West Point, PA is seeking an initiative-taking Senior Scientist with strong academic fundamentals to join our department. The candidate should possess scientific knowledge and/or experience related to various aspects of drug development (i.e., pre-formulation, formulation and process development, biopharmaceutics, and analytical methods) with a drive to apply novel technologies while working at the bench.

The successful candidate will:

• Work as part of a team focused on the discovery of novel therapeutics through support of molecular profiling, de-risking strategies, and collaborate effectively within and across functional areas.

• Design and execute physicochemical characterization and formulation development across modalities for preclinical and first-in-human studies.

• Direct and advocate for innovative drug delivery technologies, deploying them to pipeline assets.

• Perform technical data analysis and drive communications both verbally and through written documents and reports, to the local team, across functions, and external to our Company.

• Actively explore and maintains awareness of external opportunities (academia and industry) to identify innovative technologies related to drug delivery, pharmaceutics, and other areas relevant to our company’s drug discovery/development portfolio.

Education

• Ph.D. or M.S. (with a minimum of 4 years’ experience) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering or related discipline or relevant industry experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong organizational, technical critical thinking skills and ability to drive results.

• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute experiments and data analysis, as well as collaboratively, in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated ability to identify and develop innovative ideas.

• Practical experience and/or strong interest to learn and implement new drug delivery and analytical technologies.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated ability of solving challenges by leveraging strong scientific fundamentals in related subject areas including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biopharmaceutics, process development and/or engineering.

• Experience in preclinical/clinical formulation development, physicochemical characterization and drug delivery of small and/or large molecules.

• Advanced data analysis, and visualization skills.

NOTICEFORINTERNALAPPLICANTS

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 separationpackage, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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.

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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”.

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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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Requisition ID:R286398