Senior Principal Scientist Veterinary Pathologist Board Certified

Merck • Upper Gwynedd Township, PA

7d • $231,900 - $365,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The company’s Research Laboratories nonclinical drug safety department at its West Point, Pennsylvania site is seeking an experienced anatomic pathologist to join a collaborative team at a GLP-compliant facility with anatomic, molecular, and clinical pathology laboratories. The role is intended for an accomplished pathologist with toxicological pathology and drug development experience, preferably including immunology and biologics expertise. The position operates as a subject-matter expert and influences strategy from early discovery through late-stage development, supporting a varied pipeline and a range of GLP toxicology, early discovery, and investigative studies.

Pathologists are integral members and leaders of cross-functional scientific teams. They provide scientific leadership in the design and conduct of postmortem study evaluations and integrate postmortem findings into drug-candidate safety profiles. The role offers opportunities to develop as a professional scientist and drug developer through study-related work and collaboration with program development teams.

The position is based in a hybrid work environment and routinely involves interacting with fellow pathologists, sharing slides and perspectives, and supporting one another’s learning and growth. The role may serve as a nonclinical drug safety department lead on drug development teams, overseeing study design and execution and developing regulatory strategy and communications with global regulatory agencies.

Requirements

• 10 or more years of experience as a veterinary pathologist.
• 7 or more years of drug development experience in biotech, pharmaceutical, or CRO settings.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).
• Residency in anatomic or toxicologic pathology.
• ACVP or ECVP board certification, or equivalent, in anatomic pathology.
• Ability and willingness to collaborate with diverse cross-functional teams and communicate openly and often with colleagues.

Nice To Haves

• Strong knowledge of drug discovery, development, and regulatory processes, including experience on drug development project teams.
• Experience supporting immunology and biologics programs.
• PhD in Immunology, Toxicology, Pathology, or a related discipline.
• Experience serving as pathology lead for programs or providing external due diligence as a lead or subject-matter expert.
• Scientific leadership beyond individual studies, demonstrated growth and enterprise mindset, cross-functional partnership, cross-program influence, and mentoring or management of other pathologists.

Responsibilities

• Use routine H&E evaluations and specialized techniques to characterize the safety profiles of drugs in toxicology and investigative studies.
• Independently analyze data, interpret and determine the significance of postmortem evaluation results, review literature, and design experiments to help teams solve scientific problems and advance programs.
• Partner broadly with toxicology, safety pharmacology, and translational teams to define toxicity mechanisms, assess human relevance, and guide risk-mitigation strategies, including for immunology and biologics programs.
• Use available on-site tools and capabilities, including in vitro and in vivo assays, historical control slide archives and databases, digital pathology, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, quantitative digital image analysis, and targeted machine-learning applications.
• Contribute to developing novel biomarkers and predictive models to de-risk drug candidates for safety-related liabilities.
• Serve as a nonclinical drug safety department lead on drug development teams, overseeing study design and execution and generating regulatory strategy and communications with global regulatory agencies.
• Collaborate with other pathologists, share slides and professional perspectives, and support colleagues’ learning and growth.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision healthcare, and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays.
• Vacation.
• Compassionate and sick days.
• Eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
• Relocation assistance is available domestically or internationally.

What This Job Offers

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