Associate Scientist, Preclinical Dev.

Merck • Rahway, NJ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We translate molecules to medicines, working from the discovery interface through registration stability manufacturing by designing, developing and scaling-up the formulation, device, and manufacturing process. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust scientific methodology, we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.
Our company's Sterile Product Development (SPD) department is a multidisciplinary research group responsible for developing non-oral dosage forms (injections, implants, inhaled, ocular) for small, intermediate, and large molecules from preclinical toxicology studies to commercialization. Driving drug product design from the bench to manufacturing facilities, our teams ensure robust product design and development through deep fundamental understanding and characterization including screening and designing drug product compositions, developing scalable processes, and defining primary packaging / device. During development, we leverage smart experimental design, cutting edge analytical tools, and predictive approaches to inform molecule, formulation, and process selection.
We are seeking a motivated engineer / associate scientist to work collaboratively in a team environment to help solve key challenges in formulation development and manufacturing of parenteral pharmaceutical products. The successful candidate will be a passionate scientist with strong academic fundamentals and a drive to develop new medicines to improve human health. In this role, the individual will be responsible for supporting the formulation development of new biological / chemical entities as part of a matrix team from initial first-in-human formulations to commercialization. The successful candidate must be able to collaborate in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in Chemical / Biochemical / Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields (or an expected graduation date by May 2026).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong collaboration skills and experience working in a team environment.
• Ability to learn and apply new scientific principles to execution of daily responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to collate and conduct basic data analysis.
• Prior experience with Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in a laboratory environment.
• Passion to learn and develop as a pharmaceutical scientist.

Responsibilities

• Develops and applies basic principles and scientific concepts to execute work in a laboratory or pilot plant environment to develop sterile drug products.
• Capable of learning practical laboratory / pilot plant skills and fundamental scientific principles to utilize as part of their daily responsibilities.
• Executes routine experiments and data interpretation with appropriate technical guidance. Operates and troubleshoots equipment and processes.
• Builds capability to support manufacturing operations in GXP environments.
• Can understand overall project timelines to manage prioritization of individual contributor deliverables with appropriate supervision.
• Works well with others in collaborative team environments.
• Takes initiative, motivated to excel, has a strong technical background, has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Builds awareness of relevant new and current technologies to grow as a pharmaceutical scientist.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level