Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Infectious Disease and Vaccines (SARS-CoV-2 research)

Job Description

New hires working in our US & Puerto Rico locations will be required to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or qualify for a medical or religious exemption or accommodation to this vaccination requirement, subject to applicable law.

Be a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program

Our Research Laboratories’ Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be a best-in-industry program for industrial postdoctoral researchers, designed to provide you with an academic focus in a commercial environment. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, postdoctoral researchers will be positioned to excel in an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery.

Position Overview:

As a postdoctoral fellow of our Research Labs' Infectious Disease and Vaccines team in West Point, Pennsylvania , you will work with a highly collaborative team of scientists to investigate fundamental virus biology, pathogenesis, virus-host interactions and immune responses using various biochemical and cell-based assays and in vivo disease models. The goal of your project is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that determine virus infectivity, fitness and virulence, which will aid in the design of efficacious vaccines and identification of novel antivirals targets.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Construct recombinant viral vectors and characterize their in vitro properties

• Investigate the replication, tropism and gene expression of the viral vectors

• Evaluate host responses to virus infection

• Identify the factors affecting virus fitness

• Interrogate the impact of genetic variation on virus virulence.

• Publish as primary or lead author in high quality, peer-reviewed, scientific journals

Required Experience and Skills:

• Candidates must currently hold a PhD OR receive a PhD by Spring 2022. Preference is for degrees in virology or related life science field.

• Candidates must have experience with recombinant virus construction and characterization

• Candidates must have ability to design experiments, interpret and enable further development of a project

• Candidates must have superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills

• Candidates must have ability to work effectively in a team environment

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Candidates should have experience with SARS-CoV-2 research, compound testing, innate immune assays and animal models.

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.

MRLpostdoc

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, 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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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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.

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Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Kenilworth, 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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Requisition ID:R147801