Senior Scientist, In Vivo Cardiovascular Disease

Merck • South San Francisco, CA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD) department at our Company Research Labs South San Francisco is seeking an innovative and highly motivated Senior Scientist to join our team. The prospective candidate will be working in a multidisciplinary group to identify and advance drug targets for cardiovascular diseases, and will bring scientific curiosity, an analytical mindset, a willingness to learn, and a passion for understanding disease biology and mechanism of action.
The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. in biology, physiology, or a related field with a strong scientific background and a proven track record of research in cardiovascular biology and associated diseases, demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences. The candidate should have extensive experience in developing in vivo preclinical models of cardiovascular disease. The individual is expected to be a problem-solver with deep cardiovascular disease expertise, strong technical and communication skills, and has demonstrated flexibility working across in vivo and in vitro approaches.

Requirements

• Ph.D. degree in cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, or related discipline with at least one (1) year of relevant experience
• Hands-on experience working with rodents and development of animal models of cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart failure, atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, hypertension)
• Direct involvement with efficacy readouts such as echocardiography to assess cardiac function
• Proven ability to solve complex problems by undertaking innovative approaches and applying state-of-art technologies
• Proficiency in standard molecular and cellular biology techniques, ex vivo sample processing and analysis
• Able to work independently to design and execute experiments, interpret experimental data appropriately and proficiently, and present to teams within and outside the disease area
• High level of organizational skills to support multiple projects
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, having necessary people skills, and being able to work effectively in a matrixed environment

Nice To Haves

• Strategic thinker with in-depth knowledge of cardiovascular disease pathophysiology
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: target identification & validation, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, inflammation or lipid metabolism
• Experience with primary cell culture models of cardiac function and cell-based assays
• Basic understanding of the translatability of animal models to human cardiovascular disease and biomarker strategies
• Strong quantitative skills, proficiency in data analysis and application of statistical methods
• Familiarity with OMICs approaches

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments independently in the laboratory for target identification and validation utilizing in vivo preclinical models of cardiovascular disease
• Be a team-player, working productively and collaboratively in cross-functional teams within and outside of our Company Research Laboratories to advance drug targets for cardiovascular disease
• Communicate experimental results with stakeholders effectively and present research findings internally and at external scientific conferences
• Stay apprised of latest scientific advances in the field
• Learn and establish novel platforms and cutting-edge technologies to advance drug discovery efforts
• Document research activities using electronic lab notebooks and contribute to scientific publications and technical reports

Benefits

• The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees