Associate Principal Scientist, Antibody Discovery Innovation

Merck • South San Francisco, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Our teams combine leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class R&D with the purpose of turning breakthrough science into life-changing medicines. We are seeking an exceptional and experienced scientist in the role of Associate Principal Scientist in the South San Francisco Discovery Biologics group. The qualified candidate will be a scientist with a breadth and depth of expertise in immunization-based antibody discovery, including but not limited to expertise in adaptive immunity and B-cell biology, immunogen design, and experience with multiple hit finding platforms (e.g. high throughput microfluidics & NGS), in order to improve existing antibody discovery processes to help meet the needs for challenging targets and aggressive timelines. They will work closely with other team members and groups throughout the organization to help manage, perform, and troubleshoot antibody discovery programs. We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of researchers to drive our core mission.

Requirements

• Ph.D. with 4+ years or Master's with 8+ years relevant industry experience
• Experience in antibody drug discovery supporting therapeutic programs
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Depth of knowledge in adaptive immunity and B-cell biology and direct application towards optimizing antibody drug discovery and development campaigns
• Track record of driving scientific and platform innovations
• Experience leading therapeutic antibody discovery campaigns
• Strong hands-on laboratory skills, including but not limited to cell culture, molecular biology, assay development, and flow cytometry
• Established external reputation through publications, presentations, and/or scientific community engagement

Nice To Haves

• Ideal candidate will have experience in protein therapeutics beyond traditional mAbs including alternative non-Ig scaffolds, bi- or multi-specifics, fusion proteins, and ADCs

Responsibilities

• Propose and lead technology development initiatives to further optimize existing in vivo de novo platforms to increase hits and decrease timelines
• Serve as the antibody discovery representative on project teams to help define Target Candidate Profiles (TCP) and lead de novo hit finding strategies and campaigns
• Potential for future development opportunities to lead Biologics discovery projects in collaboration with therapeutic area scientists
• Stay abreast of external advancements in the relevant scientific fields
• Promote the external reputation of our company’s Discovery Biologics department

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees