Director, Translational PK/PD, PBPK Modeling

Merck • Boston, MA

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism & Bioanalytics (PDMB) is seeking a curious and collaborative Scientific Director for our growing Translational PK/PD organization. The Translational PK/PD Director is an expert mathematical modeler and scientist who can lead development of and supervise others in mechanistic modeling strategy for drug discovery, focusing on biologics, protein therapeutics, and peptides. For this role specifically, we are seeking an expert in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling who can design mechanistic models to translate findings across therapeutic modalities and across species.
In addition to the responsibilities described above, Directors demonstrate outstanding leadership and communication skills, collaborating across departments to build strategies for quantitative model-informed drug discovery.

Requirements

• (Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics / Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Systems Pharmacology / Quantitative Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering / Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Mathematics / Mathematical Biology, Biostatistics / Statistics, Computational Biology / Systems Biology, Biophysics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Toxicology or equivalent with ≥ 7 years experience) or (PharmD or equivalent with ≥ 9 years experience) or (MS or equivalent with ≥ 11 years experience); “experience” means a record of increasing responsibility and independence in drug discovery / development, within industry, academia, regulatory, or non-profit settings
• Experience performing hands-on translational PKPD and PBPK modeling using standard modeling software (e.g., Matlab / SimBiology, OSP Suite, Simcyp, Gastroplus, Monolix, R), for discovery / development of biologics, protein therapeutics, and/or peptides
• Expert skills in mathematical problem solving, critical data analysis / interpretation, experimental design, and statistics.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and to oversee the work of other scientists and software developers
• Expertise in developing novel translational modeling strategies or automated workflows that rely on PBPK, QSP, or related mechanistic modeling.

Responsibilities

• Serve as expert PK/PD modeler in cross-functional teams, to make model-informed decisions about drug discovery, modality selection, and dose prediction across therapeutic areas
• Integrate in vitro and in vivo data to build PBPK, quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), or other mechanistic modeling platforms of drug disposition and pharmacology, to support forward / reverse translation for both established and novel therapeutic targets
• Guide software developers in the design of automated workflows for implementing modeling platforms, to inform human PK/PD and dose projections
• Collaborate across the PDMB organization to develop modeling and simulation strategies to identify and optimize drug candidates
• Provide scientific guidance and cross-functional supervision to a team of growing scientists
• Mentor / supervise junior colleagues to perform the above duties and to grow the above capabilities.

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
• annual bonus
• long-term incentive

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree