Associate Scientist, Postdoctoral Fellow- Computational Peptide Modeling

Merck & Co.•Rahway, NJ

111d•$75,000 - $86,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Modeling & Informatics 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: We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with expertise in computational molecular modeling to join the Modeling and Informatics (M&I) group in Rahway, New Jersey. The successful candidate will work closely with computational and experimental experts to develop cutting-edge computational approaches that further our understanding of peptide therapeutics. Leveraging computational techniques, such as conformational sampling, molecular dynamics simulations, and machine learning, the Postdoctoral Fellow will collaborate with colleagues across Discovery and Process Chemistry to elucidate, influence, and/or design experiments related to peptide dynamics.

Requirements

Strong academic background in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, informatics, computer science, or applied mathematics
Ability to independently drive and deliver results, while balancing multiple priorities simultaneously
Experience running molecular dynamics simulations, preferably with coarse-grained forcefields
Experience with molecular modeling techniques, such as structural modeling ( i.e., small molecules, peptides, proteins) and conformational sampling
Experience with cheminformatics techniques, such as molecular property predictions, molecular featurization ( e.g., RDKit), and/or machine learning ( e.g., scikit-learn, PyTorch)
Expertise in command-line scripting ( e.g., bash) and Python-based programming
Strong oral and written communication skills with a demonstrated publication record

Nice To Haves

Experience with computational modeling of peptides and/or conformational sampling of peptides
Experience applying machine learning to large chemical datasets for predictive purposes
Experience with commercial modeling software ( e.g., Schrodinger, MOE)
Familiarity with the fundamentals of NMR techniques and/or experience running NMR experiments
Familiarity with peptide chemistry, physical chemistry, and thermodynamics

Responsibilities

Conduct research focused on the computational profiling of peptide dynamics, both independently and in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of scientists across Discovery Chemistry and Process Chemistry
Couple molecular modeling and cheminformatics tools to develop novel methods that characterize peptides at a scale relevant for drug discovery
Independently plan, execute and clearly communicate key aspects of a research program
Attend and participate in meetings across departments, presenting project progress to various teams
Author scientific publications and present at conferences