Host-Pathogen Interactions | Exploratory Science Center Senior Scientist

Job Description

The Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) Exploratory Science Center (ESC) in Cambridge is focused on driving early discovery research. Co-located with Merck’s Cambridge Innovation Hub, the ESC’s disease-area-agnostic research agenda fosters hands-on collaboration between our scientists and external academic and biotech researchers to access and explore the most promising emerging science. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork. The Merck Exploratory Science Center provides a unique experience to contribute to Merck’s drug discovery efforts at one of the earliest stages of the process. To this end, we strive to create a fast-paced, nimble and flexible environment of mutual respect, creativity, invention and team work.

We are seeking an innovative, dedicated, and highly motivated immunologist to join the Host-Pathogen team at the Merck ESC. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of mucosal immune responses in the context of infection. Experience in vaccinology and determining correlates of infection would be ideal. The candidate will be responsible for designing and executing diverse scientific projects and employ new technologies to impact programs with the goal of delivering novel therapeutics to address significant unmet medical need in infectious disease, as well as broader indications. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise and prior laboratory experience designing in vitro/in vivo experiments to assess immune responses. We expect the candidate to be able to engage internal and external scientific leaders in collaborative research. Critical to success are a high degree of organization, flexibility, and a go-getter mentality.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Immunology/Biological Sciences
• Proficiency with multiple cutting-edge technologies to assess immune cell function
• Independence in setting up design and execution, data analysis, interpretation, and presentation of in vitro/in vivo study analysis of immune/vaccine responses
• Prior experience working with mammalian cell lines and/or primary cells
• Basic knowledge of microbiology
• Team player with a demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. and post-doctoral training (0-4 yrs) in Biological Sciences
• Solid experience in one or more of the following fields: host-pathogen interactions, immunological measures of host response, vaccinology
• Prior experience evaluating mucosal immune responses
• Strong publication history in peer-reviewed journals

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., 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.

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Requisition ID:R163013