Senior Scientist, Respiratory Discovery

Merck • South San Francisco, CA

2d • $131,400 - $206,800

About The Position

The Senior Scientist will join the Respiratory Biology Discovery group and contribute to target identification, translational biology, and mechanism-of-action studies supporting early discovery programs in chronic lung diseases, including COPD, bronchiectasis, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and inflammatory airway diseases. The successful candidate will apply human-relevant in vitro and ex vivo experimental systems, with an emphasis on primary airway epithelial biology, mesenchymal and immune-epithelial interactions, disease-relevant functional assays, and translational biomarkers. This individual will generate high-quality mechanistic datasets, support biomarker discovery and translational efforts, and collaborate closely within multidisciplinary discovery and translational teams.

Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in primary human cell culture systems, particularly airway epithelial biology and/or air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures
• Strong hands-on wet lab experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques
• Experience with flow cytometry/FACS and multiplex biomarker platforms (e.g., Meso Scale Discovery, Luminex, Olink, AlphaLISA)
• Expertise in imaging-based approaches, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), histology, and image analysis
• Ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experimental studies
• Solid understanding of respiratory disease biology, including inflammatory and epithelial mechanisms relevant to chronic lung diseases
• Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills with ability to present and discuss data in cross-functional settings

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in respiratory drug discovery and translational research environments
• Experience with immune-epithelial co-culture systems and/or macrophage biology
• Familiarity with transcriptomic datasets, including bulk or single-cell RNA sequencing
• Experience with barrier function assays (TEER), live-cell imaging, or spatial biology approaches

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret in vitro and ex vivo studies to support respiratory target validation and translational biology programs
• Develop and apply human-relevant experimental systems, including primary airway epithelial cultures, air-liquid interface (ALI) models, immune cell assays, and co-culture platforms
• Generate mechanistic and disease-relevant datasets using molecular, cellular, imaging, and biomarker-based approaches
• Apply imaging techniques, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and high-content imaging, with image-based analysis to interrogate epithelial and inflammatory biology
• Perform and interpret flow cytometry/FACS-based immune and cellular phenotyping studies
• Support translational biomarker discovery and validation using multiplex immunoassay platforms (e.g., Meso Scale Discovery, Luminex, Olink)
• Conduct molecular and cellular biology assays, including cell culture, PBMC isolation, PCR/qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, protein detection, and functional cellular assays
• Characterize disease-relevant biological pathways in chronic lung diseases, including inflammatory, epithelial, fibrotic, and immune mechanisms
• Generate reproducible, high-quality datasets to inform project decisions, translational hypotheses, and program progression
• Communicate scientific findings effectively through presentations, data reviews, and written reports
• Collaborate closely across biology, pharmacology, DMPK, and translational/clinical functions within a matrixed discovery environment

Benefits

• 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: Senior