Scientist, Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D

Merck • Upper Gwynedd Township, PA

4d • $87,300 - $137,400 • Onsite

About The Position

Our Company in Rahway, N.J., U.S.A. known as Our Company in the United States and Canada, is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, different, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career. Applications are sought for an opportunity in the Vaccine and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D department, which is part of the our Company's Research Labs (our research & development) division of our company., Inc. The individual will support our company's downstream process development efforts for Vaccine programs at West Point, PA. Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D is responsible for the development and clinical manufacturing of Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product Intermediates (DPI) for the vaccine and advanced therapy pipeline, spanning from preclinical to commercialization stages. We are part of the Process R&D organization, which enables modality-agnostic DS/DPI process development and clinical manufacturing for our company's pipeline. Our vaccines downstream process development team develops safe, scalable, robust, cost-effective downstream processes that enable clinical and commercial manufacture of vaccines and adjuvants across all vaccine modalities. We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced Scientist to join us at our research and development site in West Point, PA. The candidate will be responsible for scientific/technical contributions and leadership of bioconjugation process development, and will also be a critical member of cross-functional program/project teams. This role will require frequent collaboration with cross-functional teams including Analytical, Formulation, Process Chemistry, Enabling Technologies, and Manufacturing colleagues. The candidate should have a strong background in downstream bioprocess/bioconjugation design, including reaction steps, filtration (tangential and normal flow) and column chromatography.

Requirements

• BS, MS or PhD in engineering or bio/chemical sciences: Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology
• For BS candidates, at least six (2) years of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology-related position
• For MS candidates, at least three (1) year of post-graduate experience in bioprocess/biotechnology-related position (vaccines and/or therapeutic proteins) or relevant academic research thesis.
• Must have scientific understanding of downstream bioprocess purification processes.
• Scientific understanding of purification operations of large complex molecules.
• Technical understanding of bioprocess scaling principles.
• Prior hands-on bioprocess development experience through academic lab or industry experience.
• Position requires employee to be willing to work with infectious agents and/or pathogens.
• Position requires occasional travel and off hour/weekend work.
• Strong scientific and hands-on understanding of downstream bioprocess/bioconjugation unit operations, biotherapeutic and/or vaccine process development and sound understanding of scale-up principles.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team-focused environment.

Nice To Haves

• Prior hands on experience with any of the following purification bioprocesses: Tangential Flow Filtration, Dead-End Filtration, Chromatography, or Homogenization.
• Experience in Process Tech Transfer to production facilities.
• Experience with biomolecule conjugation (e.g., conjugate vaccines, antibody-drug conjugates), conjugation chemistry and downstream bioconjugate processing.
• Strong understanding of, or hands-on experience in, cGMP manufacturing.
• The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the ability to communicate results of his/her work in both verbal and written formats.
• They are also expected to demonstrate flexibility in responding to changing priorities or dealing with unexpected events.
• In addition to the core responsibilities outlined above, the candidate will be expected to comply with all required training and maintain a focused attention on laboratory safety for him/herself and his/her team.
• Position may require working with infectious agents, pathogens, and/or potent compounds with appropriate engineering controls and PPE.
• Some travel or off-hours work may be required.

Responsibilities

• Independent design, execute, and analyze process development experiments to maximize conjugate vaccine production processes, thereby de-risking later stage development and tech transfer.
• Leadership roles in downstream process design and development for conjugate vaccine candidates.
• Represent functional area in cross-functional and strategic teams engaged in vaccine development.
• Lead tech transfer of vaccine drug substance processes for clinical and commercial manufacture.
• Serve as a scientific/technical mentor. Provide technical guidance in the various aspects of downstream bioprocess/bioconjugation development.
• Support strategic initiatives and innovation in the areas of vaccine and advanced biotechnology process development.
• Analysis of experiments through analytical techniques including HPLC, light scattering, and spectroscopy.
• Data interpretation and presentation, manuscript/patent preparation.

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: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree