Principal Scientist - Human Genetics

Job Description

New hires in office-based roles in the US & Puerto Rico will be required, subject to applicable law, to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement that can be accommodated without an undue burden to the operation. However, subject to applicable law, employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as employees in customer facing commercial or research based roles, will be required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to isolate a compound that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.

We are recruiting two creative and versatile human geneticists to join the Early Discovery Genetics group in our Company's Genome and Biomarker Sciences organization in Cambridge, MA. These are key leadership roles that, in collaboration with Statistical Genetics and therapeutic area colleagues, will focus on identification and validation of novel drug targets supported by human genetics and influence the scientific direction of programs to invent new therapies. For these roles we are seeking individuals with deep knowledge in one or more of the following areas of human biology: neuroscience, immunology, cardio-metabolism and/or ophthalmology, in addition to experience leveraging large-scale genetics and genomics for discovery in these areas.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, as well as animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Our company is on a quest for cures and is committed to being the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We are integrating knowledge of biological mechanisms of disease with state-of-the-art statistical analysis of expanding biobank-scale genotype-phenotype data (including foundational membership of Finngen, Our Future Health and East London Genes and Health consortia), high-throughput functional genomics and growing AI/ML capabilities for discovery of targets that will enter our company's drug discovery pipeline for therapeutic intervention.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead a team of 2-3 dry lab scientists responsible for applying human genetics, bioinformatics and functional genomics for target identification and validation.

• Contribute to a leadership team in developing and driving the strategy to identify and prioritize targets entering the early pipeline across different therapeutic areas.

• Provide genetics expertise to disease area biologists and contribute to strategy for discovery efforts across disease areas

• Engage with internal peers in diverse areas to identify opportunities for drug development based on discoveries from human genetics

• Participate in large academic/industry partnerships and leverage data from large biobanks (including Finngen, UK Biobank, Our Future Health)

• Integrate data from large human genetic datasets, including Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), RVAS, Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL/pQTL) studies, and Mendelian genetics to identify novel targets in disease-relevant pathways for drug development

• Collaborate across functional areas and in a matrixed environment to develop research plans, optimize resource allocation, and maximize efficiencies to best execute on programs.

• Ability to clearly communicate scientific strategy and study results to wider network within the company including project teams and senior management as well as to the external scientific community.

• Explore and identify new external collaborations with academia and industry partners to leverage tools to exploit human genetics/genomics for discovery of new drug targets.

Education:

• MD or PhD required

Required:

• 6+ years of experience in biotech/pharmaceutical setting leveraging human genetic and associated -omics for drug discovery (eg., GWAS, WES/WGS, RNASeq, proteomics, epigenetics).

• Track record of contributions in one or more disease areas of neuroscience, cardio-metabolism, immunology and/or ophthalmology

• Demonstrated leadership skills

• Proven ability to create, work and influence within high performance teams and/or matrixed organization

• Demonstrated ability to conduct research individually and collaboratively and prioritize work against departmental and company goals.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Ability to establish and maintain productive cross-site and high caliber external collaborations.

• Proficiency to critically evaluate scientific and therapeutic proposals and adopt novel technologies to facilitate groundbreaking research.

• Ability to create partnerships with key stakeholders.

• 10-20% Travel Required

Preferred:

• Demonstrate significant knowledge of pathway and multi-omics approaches to integrate with genetic datasets for identifying causal gene(s) as potential therapeutic targets

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for …

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

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 separation package, 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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Residents of Colorado

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New hires in office-based roles in the US & Puerto Rico will be required, subject to applicable law, to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement that can be accommodated without an undue burden to the operation. However, subject to applicable law, employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as employees in health services, customer facing commercial, or research based roles, will be required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment.

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.

For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Residents of Colorado:

Click here to request this role’s pay range.

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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Number of Openings:

Requisition ID:R180630