Sr. Scientist, Assay Development Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Scientist Assay Development in Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery

Location: Boston MA (On-Site)

Our Companys Neuroscience Therapeutic area is seeking a Senior Scientist (R3) to join our Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery Team. The Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery group at our companys Research Labs (Boston) is accountable for designing and executing biomarker strategies across our companys Neuroscience portfolio spanning from early preclinical discovery to early-stage clinical groups mission is to bridge target disease biology advanced mechanistic modeling and computational analysis to formulate novel biomarker panels. Ultimately this group generates the data packages and clinical biomarker strategies required to drive crucial pipeline Go/No-Go governance decisions and patient stratification for Neurodegeneration (Alzheimers Parkinsons) and Pain programs.

Reporting to the Neuroscience Biomarker discovery lead at our company this individual will play a pivotal role in assay development and generating data in support of biomarker strategies from preclinical models to human clinical and observational studies for Alzheimers disease (AD) Parkinsons disease (PD) and Pain.

This is a lab-based position located in Boston. You will lead the design development optimization and automation of complex high-dimensional assays to process human biofluids and tissues generating the robust datasets required for pipeline Go/No-Go decisions and patient stratification.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Plan design execute and deliver high-quality biomarker datasets from observational human and preclinical samples in support of pipeline programs in Neuroscience at our company.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and lead the design development and qualification of fit-for-purpose biomarker methods. This includes driving our workhorse ultra-sensitive immunoassays while spearheading the adoption of high-plex NGS-based proteomic platforms (e.g. Olink).

• Partner closely with data scientists within and outside the team to ensure automated workflows yield high-fidelity data suitable for mixed-effects modeling and multi-omics integration. Collaborate with Mechanistic Validation scientists to support in vitro in vivo readouts.

• Work on-site in the lab and summarize data and status of results with internal and external partners.

• Participate and contribute to the generation of data packages that enable key governance decisions for pipeline programs.

• Take the lead in identifying piloting and automating novel high-throughput methodologies for biomarker discovery (e.g. implementing robotic liquid handling flow-cytometry based immune-cell profiling using single cell sequencing in human and mouse samples or extracellular vesicles).

Required Qualifications:

• Masters in molecular biology Biochemistry Neuroscience Immunology Neurology or related STEM fields with minimum 6 years of relevant industry experience OR PhD in molecular biology Biochemistry Neuroscience Immunology Neurology or related STEM fields with hands-on relevant experience.

• Demonstrated expertise in biomarker assay development and implementation in large scale human cohorts and samples from in vivo/in vitro studies.

• Extensive hands-on expertise in developing de novo ultra-sensitive multiplexed immunoassays (e.g. O-link) coupled with direct practical experience in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows.

• Proven hands-on expertise in programming and implementing laboratory automation tools and liquid handlers to scale high-throughput immunoassay and/or NGS-based datasets generation.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and thrive in a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment.

• Demonstrated experience with clinical assay validation parameters (accuracy precision reproducibility) and regulatory guidelines (FDA/ICH) for biomarker qualification.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in the Neuroscience therapeutic area particularly in Neurodegeneration (eg. AD or PD).

• Prior expertise in implementing end-to-end NGS based workflows using the Illumina platform.

• Experience in one or more of the following techniques (flow cytometry panel design and data analysis analysis of extracellular vesicles NGS workflows single-cell RNA sequencing).

• Adept at or strong willingness to leverage AI tools for conducting data quality controls and sound statistical analysis of large-scale datasets.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Assay Development Bioassay Development Biomarker Development Biomarker Discovery Biomarker Identification Biomarkers Disease Models Drug Discovery Research Flow Cytometry High-Throughput Screening Immunoassays In Vitro Assays In Vivo Models Molecular Biology Techniques Neurodegeneration Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Omics Preclinical Research Protein Purifications RNA-Seq Scientific Writing

Preferred Skills:

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The salary range for this role is

$106200.00 - $167200.00

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 employees 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 can apply for this role through (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

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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:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

BSL2 OEB4 Bloodborne pathogens

Job Posting End Date:

09/25/2026

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