Sr. Scientist, Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery - Biomarker Mechanisms

Merck • Boston, MA

2d • $117,000 - $184,200 • Onsite

About The Position

Our Company’s Neuroscience Therapeutic area is seeking a Senior Scientist (R3) to join our Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery Team. The Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery group at our company's Research Labs (Boston) is accountable for designing and executing biomarker strategies across Our company's Neuroscience portfolio, spanning from early preclinical discovery to early-stage clinical trials. The group’s mission is to bridge target disease biology, advanced mechanistic modeling, and computational analysis to formulate novel biomarker panels. Ultimately, this group generates the data packages and clinical biomarker strategies required to drive crucial pipeline Go/No-Go governance decisions and patient stratification for Neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s) and Pain programs. In this unique role, you will leverage your expertise and understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders and human iPSC and/or preclinical models and employ targeted or omics-based methods to decipher biological mechanisms that link the change in biomarkers to the drug and target mechanism of action. Ultimately, these data packages will enable prioritization of biomarker panels and help interpret clinical datasets.

Requirements

• Master’s in molecular biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Immunology, Neurology, Genetics/Genomics, or related STEM fields with minimum 6 years of relevant industry experience OR PhD in molecular biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Immunology, Neurology, Genetics/Genomics, or related STEM fields with hands-on relevant experience.
• Demonstrated hands on expertise in human in vitro model systems (such as hiPSC neurons, astrocytes, microglia and/or complex organoids) for modeling disease neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation.
• Demonstrated experience in generating insights into target or disease mechanisms particularly by leveraging multiomic approaches such as proteomics, imaging, metabolomics and RNA based methods such as single cell sequencing and/or spatial technologies.
• A proven track record of experimental models to decipher mechanisms of action and linking target biology to physiological or biomarker outcomes in the context of human disease.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and thrive in an agile, highly collaborative environment, partnering closely with bench biologists, AI/ML scientists, and clinical colleagues.

Nice To Haves

• Deep expertise in adeptly utilizing proteomic datasets (bulk proteomics and PTM analysis) to uncover novel disease mechanisms, target engagement markers, and pathway biology in Neurodegeneration.
• Proven ability to analyze and interpret RNA sequencing datasets in conjunction with proteomic data such as Proteogenomic workflows and/or integration of genomics data in protein expression analysis.
• Adept at independently analyzing multiomic datasets to derive mechanistic insights.
• Demonstrated expertise in generating hypotheses or contextualizing mechanistic findings using external academic consortia and human datasets (e.g., ROSMAP, ADNI, BioFINDER, PPMI).

Responsibilities

• Design and execute targeted perturbation studies using human in vitro systems and (e.g., hiPSC-derived neurons, astrocytes, microglia or complex organoids) collaborate on in vivo preclinical models to map the causal biological cascade from target engagement to downstream biomarker responses.
• Employ advanced multi-omics approaches (Especially Proteomics, Metabolomics and single-cell RNA sequencing) combined with pharmacological interventions to establish clear, mechanistic links between disease states, drug action, and measurable biomarker modulation from a temporal and spatial perspective.
• Generate robust mechanistic data packages that provide confidence in target biology. Use these insights to directly inform and prioritize candidate fluid and imaging biomarker panels for translation into early-stage clinical trials.
• Establish and adopt novel disease models that allow for the interrogation of target biology and downstream biomarker responses in CNS tissues and biofluids.
• Thrive in an agile, highly collaborative environment, partnering closely with bench biologists, disease experts, AI/ML scientists, and clinical colleagues.
• Deliver excellent written and oral presentations to clearly communicate complex findings and strategically aligned recommendations to key stakeholders.

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