Senior Scientist, Research Science

Merck • Elkhorn, NE

1d • $106,200 - $167,200 • Onsite

About The Position

Our Company's Global Animal Health Research & Development (R&D) division is a pioneer in the discovery, development and registration of vaccines and therapeutics for animals. To strengthen our team responsible for poultry vaccine projects, we are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Senior Scientist to join our R&D team. Reporting to the Global Head of Poultry Bio R&D, this role will drive and provide scientific leadership for multifaceted animal vaccine development projects — partnering with Project Management and senior leadership to guide programs from discovery through late-stage development and licensure. This position combines hands-on scientific expertise with strategic project leadership, requiring both deep technical knowledge and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline with 10+ years of poultry vaccine R&D experience in the animal health industry, OR a Ph.D. in Poultry Diseases, Veterinary Medicine, Immunology, Virology, Bacteriology, Microbiology, Vaccinology, or a related discipline, with at least 1 year of postdoctoral training in poultry disease research preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in poultry diseases and poultry vaccine development is required, including experience with relevant poultry pathogens, disease models, diagnostics, and/or vaccine efficacy studies.
• Strong technical background in poultry diseases, poultry pathogens, disease pathogenesis, diagnostics, and poultry vaccine development.
• Strong understanding of vaccine development principles, including antigen design, adjuvant selection, immunogenicity evaluation, efficacy studies, and/or formulation development for poultry vaccines.
• Solid knowledge of assay development, qualification, and validation principles within a regulated environment, particularly as applied to poultry vaccine programs.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements for animal health biologics (USDA/CVB), including the product licensure pathway for poultry vaccines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or significantly influence cross-functional project teams.
• Proven ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, regulatory bodies, and external partners.
• Analytical Thinking
• Assay Development
• Bacteriology
• Bioanalytical Method Development
• Bioanalytical Techniques
• Biological Sciences
• Clinical Judgment
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Data Analysis
• Experimentation
• Flow Cytometry
• Immunoassays
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Microbiology
• Production Process Development
• Project Risks
• Regulatory Compliance
• Research Proposal Development
• Scientific Leadership
• Scientific Writing
• Teamwork
• Tissue Culture Techniques
• Vaccinology

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on clinical or field experience with poultry diseases, including field investigations, diagnostics, challenge studies, and disease management, is highly desirable.
• Direct experience in the development and licensure of poultry vaccines is strongly preferred.
• Experience leading cross-functional poultry vaccine development project teams from discovery through late-stage development.
• Track record of scientific contributions in poultry disease, poultry pathogens, immunology, vaccinology, or related fields, including publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentations at scientific conferences.
• Experience authoring technical reports and regulatory filing documents for USDA/CVB or equivalent regulatory agencies.
• Familiarity with viral and bacterial poultry pathogens relevant to the team's vaccine portfolio.
• Automated Liquid Handling Systems

Responsibilities

• Lead the scientific strategy for the assigned poultry vaccine development projects, with emphasis on poultry disease biology, pathogen-host interactions, candidate selection, and licensure-enabling studies.
• Timely design, execute, and analyze experiments related to poultry vaccine candidate characterization, immunogenicity assessment, challenge model development, and assay development and validation.
• Apply deep technical expertise in poultry diseases to independently troubleshoot complex scientific problems and make data-driven decisions that advance project goals.
• Maintain a strong laboratory presence, with a minimum of 50% of time dedicated to wet-lab experimentation supporting poultry vaccine and disease research.
• Serve as the scientific lead in the cross-functional poultry vaccine development project teams, providing strategic and technical direction throughout the development process.
• Lead project management activities for the poultry vaccine programs, including timeline planning, milestone tracking, resource allocation, and cross-functional coordination under defined organizational governances and processes.
• Define and drive project strategy, ensuring scientific excellence, effective decision-making, and alignment across key functional areas (e.g., Discovery, Process Development, Analytical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, and Manufacturing).
• Proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate scientific, clinical, and regulatory risks related to poultry disease models and vaccine development to ensure timely achievement of key milestones.
• Author and review technical documents, including development reports, validation protocols, SOPs, and sections of regulatory submissions for poultry biologics (e.g., USDA/CVB).
• Ensure all poultry vaccine development activities comply with relevant regulatory requirements and are aligned with the path to product licensure.
• Serve as a scientific point of contact during regulatory interactions related to assigned poultry vaccine and poultry disease programs.
• Work closely with colleagues in Clinical, Process Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless progression of poultry vaccine projects from research through commercialization.
• Represent the scientific function in governance meetings, providing clear technical assessments and recommendations grounded in poultry disease expertise and vaccine development experience.
• Stay current with scientific literature, emerging technologies, and industry trends relevant to poultry diseases, poultry pathogens, and poultry vaccine development.
• Propose and evaluate innovative approaches to improve poultry vaccine design, disease models, assay performance, and development efficiency.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at external scientific conferences, contributing to the organization's scientific reputation in poultry disease and vaccine research.

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
• annual bonus
• long-term incentive

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior