Senior Scientist, Biologics Design and Display, Discovery Biologics

Job Description

Senior Scientist, Biologics Design and Display, Discovery Biologics

We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Our teams combine leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class R&D with the purpose of turning breakthrough science into life-changing medicines.

We are seeking a Senior Scientist to join the Biologics Design and Display team within the Boston Discovery Biologics group. The successful candidate will be an integral member of the team responsible for the discovery and design of biologic therapeutic candidates. They will conduct in vitro display campaigns to discover and optimize therapeutic candidates, generate and analyze NGS-based datasets to support hit and lead selection and engineering, and will leverage AI/ML-based computational tools to develop predictive models that support the antibody optimization efforts.

The candidate will stay current with scientific advances and continuously drive innovation in display technologies to consistently deliver high-quality early biologics in support of drug discovery across multiple therapeutic areas. As part of project teams, they will collaborate across functions to solve complex problems in disease biology and drug discovery. There are opportunities to attend scientific conferences, contribute to publications, train and mentor junior staff and interns, and help shape group strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute in vitro display campaigns for hit discovery and lead optimization to support the discovery and development of therapeutic candidates

• Generate and leverage experimental and NGS data from display campaigns to develop machine learning models that enhance predictive performance and accelerate biologics lead optimization and engineering

• Support display workflows, including data analysis, structure analysis, library designs, and sequence nomination by utilizing AI/ML and other computational tools

• Stay current with external scientific and technological advancements and continuously drive innovation of display platform capabilities

• Collaborate across multiple functional areas to advance therapeutic candidates

• Effectively communicate experimental results in project and team meetings

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Protein Engineering, Chemical Biology or related STEM discipline with 0-3 years, MS with >3 years, or BS with >6 years of post-grad industry or academic experience

• Expertise in antibody discovery and optimization using in vitro display technologies

• Expertise applying AI/ML or computational structure analysis tools in antibody discovery and optimization

• Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Required skills:

• Hands on expertise in at least one molecular display technology (phage, yeast, or mammalian)

• Knowledge of NGS technology including NGS data generation and analysis

• Demonstrated ability to build and utilize computational tools for therapeutic discovery and optimization

• Familiarity with lead optimization strategies and display library design methodologies

• Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary collaborative team environment

Preferred skills:

• Hands on expertise with lead optimization, including designing, building, and screening of lead optimization libraries

• Experience in using computational structural analysis tools

• Experience in using laboratory automation platforms for high throughput workflows

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Antibody Discovery, Biochemistry, Biodesign, Bioinformatics, Biologics, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Computational Biology, Detail-Oriented, Display Technologies, Drug Discovery Process, Foster Innovation, High-Throughput Screening, Laboratory Automation, Lead Optimization, Machine Learning (ML), Molecular Biology Techniques, Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Protein Engineering, Protein Interactions, Protein Purifications, Results-Oriented, Structural Analysis, Systematic Problem Solving

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$119,100.00 - $187,500.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

OEB3

Job Posting End Date:

07/7/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.