Principal Scientist, Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job Description

Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) is a multidisciplinary research group that enables drug discovery and drug product development through application of pharmaceutical science to drug delivery research from target identification through clinical candidate selection for both small and large molecules as well as vaccines. DPS influences molecular design of these clinical candidates through physicochemical property profiling and application of insights to better understand and resolve drug product developability risks. Our deliverables include identification of oral and parenteral preclinical formulations for pharmacology and toxicology studies across modalities (small molecules, peptides, biologics, and vaccines). We closely collaborate with other key functions required for selection and progression of clinical candidates, including Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Safety, Process Research, Vaccine Development, Analytical Research, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. In aggregate, our team enables the transition of optimized molecules from discovery to clinical formulation development with clinical formulation strategies in place.

Primary Responsibilities

DPS in West Point, PA is seeking a Principal Scientist to join our department. The candidate should have a creative passion for identifying and applying effective drug delivery technologies and pharmaceutics methods as well as a history of driving results and rapidly progressing ideas from conception to in vitro/in vivo evaluation. In this role the candidate will:

• Identify and champion impactful pipeline-driven innovations to solve unique Discovery program challenges of delivery of vaccines from a diverse range of modalities: polysaccharides, RNA, protein subunits, polysaccharide conjugates, etc.
• Challenge the scientific direction within the space and inspire scientific rigor to bring novel and innovative tools to aide in keeping DPS at the front of pharmaceutics assessment in Discovery.
• Represent the group on program leadership and scientific strategic discussions and collaborate with other CMC areas as well as Discovery and Development to progress our pipeline.
• Develop scientific talents within the group through mentorship and coaching, and high-performing teams from diverse background and advance our company's commitment to enable a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Actively explore external opportunities (academia and industry) to engage innovative technologies related to drug delivery and pharmaceutics.
• Enhance our external collaboration network (academia and industry) and guiding our scientific presence externally through publication, patents, and conferences.

Education:

• Ph.D. with 7 years of experience or M.S. with 10 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering or related discipline or relevant industry experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Experience in driving innovative research in drug product process development and characterization of vaccines.
• Strong leadership/inter-personal skills and motivation to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.
• Ability to mentor and develop scientific staff.
• Enterprise mindset with decision making driven by an appropriately balanced consideration of driving the business and developing staff.
• Demonstrated experience solving program challenges by leveraging strong scientific fundamentals in related subject areas including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biopharmaceutics, process development, or engineering.
• Familiarity with early development and commercialization challenges through drug product development experience.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in pre-clinical / clinical formulation development and physicochemical characterization.
• Advanced computation, data analysis, and visualization skills.
• Strong record of patent applications / patents.
• Strong record of external peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstration of external scientific presence and influence.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5,2023 our U.S. Hybrid work model will be as follows: 1. Three total days on site per week: Tuesday and Wednesday - plus one additional day of choice based on what works best for organizations and/or teams. 2. Fridays will formally be a remote-working day unless business critical tasks require onsite presence.

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:
Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:
Yes

Travel Requirements:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
On-Site

Shift:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Requisition ID:R251786