Senior Scientist, Neuroimmunology, Biology-Discovery

MSD•Boston, MA

4d•$119,100 - $187,500•Onsite

About The Position

Merck is seeking a highly motivated, laboratory-based scientist to join its Neuroimmunology team. This hands-on experimental role focuses on preclinical models, neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration, and translational biology. The successful candidate will independently design and execute in vitro and in vivo studies, generate mechanistic insights into microglial biology, and contribute to discovering therapies for CNS diseases. The scientist will support pipeline programs by designing and conducting studies, interpreting complex datasets, and communicating results to cross-functional teams. The role includes generating pharmacology, efficacy, biomarker, and mechanistic data for target validation and drug discovery. The candidate is also expected to provide scientific leadership, contribute to program strategy, and influence decisions through data-driven recommendations. The position is based at the Boston, Massachusetts laboratory. The posting indicates no travel is required, flexible work arrangements are not applicable, and visa sponsorship is available. The role involves OEB4, BSL2, and standard laboratory reagents.

Requirements

PhD in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field; postdoctoral industry experience is highly preferred.
Alternatively, a master's degree in a listed or related STEM field and a minimum of 8 years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience.
Extensive hands-on experience with rodent in vivo studies.
Experience with mouse models of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, or CNS disease.
Expertise in flow cytometry, CNS immune cell isolation, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology techniques.
Proficiency with omics approaches, including RNA-seq and single-cell technologies, and data analysis.
Strong experimental design, statistical analysis, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a cross-functional research environment.

Nice To Haves

Postdoctoral industry experience.
Industry experience supporting discovery or early development programs in CNS disorders.
Experience with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, or related neurodegenerative diseases.
Hands-on experience with transgenic rodent models, including behavioral, pharmacology, and biomarker studies.
Experience with primary microglia cultures, macrophages, immune cell assays, or iPSC-derived CNS cell systems.
Familiarity with translational biomarkers, PK/PD relationships, and mechanism-based drug development.
Experience working within multidisciplinary drug discovery teams and advancing programs from target validation through candidate selection.
Experience leading collaborative projects and coordinating activities across multiple functions.

Responsibilities

Conduct hands-on in vitro and in vivo procedures and downstream analyses.
Design and execute studies supporting pipeline programs, interpret complex datasets, and communicate findings to cross-functional teams.
Generate and interpret pharmacology, efficacy, biomarker, and mechanistic datasets to support target validation and drug discovery programs.
Perform CNS immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, molecular profiling, and histological analyses.
Collaborate with teams across pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, biologics, biomarker sciences, and data science.
Provide scientific leadership, contribute to program strategy, and influence decision-making through data-driven recommendations.