Associate Principal Scientist, Biology-Discovery

MSD•Elkhorn, NE

1d•$142,400 - $224,100•Onsite

About The Position

Our Company's Global Animal Health Research & Development (R&D) division is a pioneer in the discovery, development and registration of vaccines and therapeutics for animals. To strengthen our team responsible for poultry vaccine projects, we are looking for a highly skilled and motivated individual to join our R&D team. Reporting to the Global Head of Poultry Bio R&D, the Associate Principal Scientist will provide accountable scientific, project, and people leadership for multifaceted poultry vaccine development programs from discovery through late-stage development and licensure. This role requires deep expertise in poultry diseases, vaccine development, experimental design, and regulated biologics development, combined with the ability to shape scientific strategy, lead complex in vitro, in vivo, and laboratory-based activities, integrate scientific, regulatory, clinical, manufacturing, and business considerations, and translate data into clear program recommendations. The role will drive milestone delivery, proactively identify and mitigate risks, influence cross-functional decisions, mentor junior scientists and laboratory colleagues, and foster a culture of scientific rigor, collaboration, accountability, productive communication, courage, candor, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Ph.D. or DVM/Ph.D. in Poultry Diseases, Veterinary Medicine, Immunology, Virology, Bacteriology, Microbiology, Vaccinology, or a related scientific discipline.
Minimum 3 years of experience in poultry disease research, vaccine development, or regulated biologics development in the animal health industry.
Strong depth of expertise in poultry diseases and poultry vaccine development, including poultry pathogens, disease models, diagnostics, immunogenicity testing, challenge studies, efficacy evaluation, and translation of study outcomes into project strategy.
Demonstrated ability to independently lead or significantly influence complex research or development projects in a matrixed environment, with impact on project progression, technical strategy, or development decisions.
Demonstrated ability to mentor junior scientists or laboratory colleagues, strengthen project team capability, and lead through influence across technical and cross-functional teams.
Advanced knowledge of poultry disease biology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, immunology, vaccinology, and regulated biologics development.
Advanced understanding of poultry vaccine development, including antigen selection, vaccine platform considerations, adjuvant or formulation strategy, immunogenicity evaluation, efficacy studies, development risk assessment, and licensure requirements.
Advanced ability to design, interpret, and communicate complex studies and datasets, including assay development, qualification, validation, disease model performance, and evidence packages supporting project decisions.
Working knowledge of animal health biologics regulations, compliance expectations, and licensure pathways, including USDA/CVB requirements for poultry vaccines and related global considerations.
Ability to integrate scientific, technical, regulatory, clinical, manufacturing, quality, commercial, and business considerations into project strategy, risk management, and program recommendations.
Proficiency consistent with the Research Sciences pathway, including advanced proficiency in strategic thinking, productive communication, discovery and development knowledge, research design and execution, data analysis, interpretation and communication, and disease area knowledge; and applying-level proficiency in business and financial acumen, working across boundaries, project management, collaboration and partnering, competitive decision-making and execution, and regulatory and compliance management.
Assay Development
Biochemical Assays
Biochemistry
Bioinformatics
Cell Biology
Data Integrity
Data Quality
High-Throughput Screening
Immunoassays
Immunology
Professional Networking
Project Leadership
Regulatory Affairs Compliance
Strategic Thinking
Teamwork
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Pathology
Virology

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in the development and licensure of poultry vaccines, preferably including programs spanning discovery through late-stage development.
Experience with viral and/or bacterial poultry pathogens relevant to commercial vaccine portfolios.
Demonstrated ability to lead or significantly influence cross-functional project teams in a matrixed R&D organization.
Experience authoring technical reports, regulatory filing sections, study protocols, validation documents, or responses to regulatory agencies.
Strong publication or presentation record in poultry diseases, vaccinology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, microbiology, or related fields.
Ability to mentor junior colleagues, promote scientific excellence, and contribute to a high-performing, collaborative R&D culture.

Responsibilities

Provide independent scientific leadership for complex poultry vaccine development projects, including disease biology, pathogen-host interactions, candidate selection, immunogenicity assessment, challenge model development, and licensure-enabling study strategy.
Define and guide in vivo, in vitro, and laboratory-based research plans and development plans, ensuring experimental design, execution, analysis, and interpretation are rigorous, decision-oriented, and aligned with project objectives.
Identify, diagnose, and resolve scientific and technical challenges across assigned studies and projects by applying advanced research design, strong data interpretation, and sound scientific judgment.
Strengthen scientific rigor and technical consistency within assigned project areas by coaching scientists and laboratory colleagues on study design, assay strategy, disease model execution, data quality, documentation, and problem solving.
Evaluate and recommend innovative scientific approaches that can improve poultry vaccine discovery and development, disease models, assay performance, development efficiency, and product differentiation within assigned project areas.
Serve as scientific lead or key scientific representative on cross-functional poultry vaccine development teams, partnering with core teams and functional leaders to advance integrated project plans through key milestones and governance discussions.
Contribute to and drive integrated project strategy, including milestone planning, scientific risk assessment, study sequencing, evidence-generation plans, and resource considerations aligned with regulatory, clinical, manufacturing, commercial, and business objectives.
Proactively identify, escalate, mitigate, and communicate scientific, technical, clinical, regulatory, and execution risks that may affect project timelines, licensure pathways, or product value.
Influence cross-functional stakeholders across Discovery, Process Development, Analytical Development, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Manufacturing, Commercial, and external partner organizations to support alignment, timely decisions, and effective execution.
Translate complex scientific and technical data into clear recommendations for project teams, functional leaders, and governance discussions, supporting disciplined and well-documented project decisions.
Author, review, and approve key technical documents, including protocols, study reports, validation packages, SOPs, technical summaries, development plans, and regulatory submission sections for poultry biologics.
Apply strong regulatory and compliance understanding to ensure assigned development activities meet applicable internal standards, data integrity expectations, USDA/CVB requirements, and global licensure considerations where relevant.
Serve as a poultry vaccine subject matter expert in technical reviews, regulatory interactions, audits, inspections, and responses to agency questions related to assigned projects or study areas.
Promote inspection readiness, high-quality documentation, and compliant execution by setting clear expectations and coaching team members within assigned project activities.
Identify, evaluate, and recommend scientific technologies, external opportunities, and development approaches that can improve poultry vaccine design, disease models, assay performance, development efficiency, and product value within assigned programs.
Maintain strong awareness of poultry disease trends, field epidemiology, competitive intelligence, emerging pathogens, regulatory expectations, and external scientific advances to inform project strategy and technical recommendations.
Contribute to internal and external scientific credibility through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, scientific collaborations, technical forums, and engagement with relevant professional or industry networks.
Mentor and coach junior scientists and laboratory colleagues, share technical knowledge across project teams, and model collaboration, courage, candor, accountability, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement.