Senior Scientist, Preclinical Development

Job Description

The Vaccine Process Development department in West Point, PA is seeking a highly motivated scientist/engineer to join their downstream process development team in support of our company's expanding vaccine pipeline.  The VPD downstream group develops purification processes for the manufacture of vaccine candidates encompassing a diverse range of biomolecules, including viruses, recombinant protein subunits, nucleic acids, and polysaccharide-protein conjugates.  The successful candidate will be responsible for applying sound scientific understanding and engineering principles to develop, optimize, scale-up, and transfer downstream processes for clinical and commercial manufacture.  The individual will work in a highly inter-disciplinary environment, helping to lead the development, execution, and tech transfer of one or more process unit operations.  Although primarily serving as an individual scientific contributor, the candidate will be required to work cross-functionally and may be asked to provide oversight to junior colleagues.

Our ability to excel depends on integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork.  To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork.  As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues throughout our company while developing and expanding your career.

Education:

• BS degree with minimum 7 years of experience, OR MS degree with minimum 4 years of experience, OR PhD, in Bio/Chemical Engineering or the Biological Sciences (with a graduation date no later than June 2024).

Required:

• Strong command of engineering principles and scalable unit operations in the purification of biomolecules including extensive knowledge of chromatography (SEC, IEX, Affinity, MMC, HIC, etc.) and membrane filtration.

• Extensive hands-on experience in the preparative purification of proteins, viruses, nucleic acids, and/or other biomolecules. 

• Experience with common biochemical analytical techniques.

• A demonstrated ability to function independently along with strong skills in critical thinking, laboratory experimentation, data analysis, and record keeping.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work in a cross-functional team environment.

• Organizational skills with an attention to detail.

Preferred:

• Solid track record of scientific contributions and project accomplishment, with ability to deliver high quality presentations/publications.

• Advanced knowledge in FPLC operations (preferably AKTA systems)

• Advanced knowledge in RNA handling and purification

• Experience with GMP principles and regulations.

• Ability to independently drive projects with little oversight.

• Experience with advanced statistical, data visualization, and computational tools (e.g. Design of Experiments, multivariate data analysis, etc).

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.

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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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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, 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:

On-Site, Work Week

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Requisition ID:R280204