Sr. Scientist, Neuroimmunology

Merck • Boston, MA

17h • $119,100 - $187,500 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated, laboratory-based scientist to join the Neuroimmunology team at our Company. This role is ideal for a hands-on experimentalist with expertise in preclinical models, neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration, and translational biology. The successful candidate will independently design and execute in vivo studies, generate mechanistic insights into microglial biology, and contribute to the discovery of novel therapies for CNS diseases.

Requirements

• PhD in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field; postdoctoral industry experience preferred.
• OR Master's degree in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field with: Minimum 6+ 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.
• Familiarity with omics approaches (RNA-seq, 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

• 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.
• Prior experience leading collaborative projects, in particular, the ability to coordinate activities across multiple functions will be an important consideration
• The ideal candidate is a highly independent scientist who enjoys working at the bench, excels in in vivo experimentation, and is passionate about advancing innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Responsibilities

• Play a key role in supporting pipeline programs by designing and executing studies, interpreting complex datasets, and communicating findings to cross-functional teams
• Serve as a hands-on scientist conducting in vivo procedures and downstream analyses.
• 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 multidisciplinary 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.

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