Scientist, Protein Sciences / Molecular Interactions (Discovery Biologics)

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. Our teams combine leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class R&D with the purpose of turning breakthrough science into life-changing medicines.

Our Research and Development Division in San Diego is a cross-functional team (Discovery Biologics, Immunology, and Data Science) with the goal to discover and develop novel, innovative therapeutics in the field of Inflammation and Immunology.

The Discovery Biologics Department is seeking a Scientist with expertise in antibody functional characterization to join our team located in San Diego, CA. The Scientist will contribute to the early discovery pipeline, with focus on antibody-based therapeutics and evaluation of novel biologic platforms.

The successful candidate will integrate with a group focused on the areas of antibody discovery, engineering, production and biophysical characterization and carry out experiments in the lab to support reagent and therapeutic molecule development in a range of antibody modalities including monoclonal, bispecific/multispecific and VHH formats. An ability to communicate clearly and collaborate effectively with colleagues in the discovery group as well as scientists from different disciplines will be essential. 

This position offers a great opportunity to be a part of the early scientific team, and a key interface within global Discovery Biologics network and with Immunology and other functions across our company.  

We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates should demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage the functional characterization and binding assessments of antibodies and other biologics modalities to support candidate selection and pre-clinical development of therapeutic programs:

  • Perform plate-based and kinetic binding determinations by multiple methods

  • Run epitope binning and characterization assays

  • Implement Poly specificity and, non-specific binding experiments

  • Develop cell-based functional and binding assays

• Contribute scientifically to drug discovery research programs; present and communicate strategies, concepts and results to multidisciplinary drug discovery teams.  

• Collaborate with adjacent discovery departments to develop and integrate enabling technology 

• Analyze and interpret experimental data, prepare clear and concise reports to communicate results to project teams.

• Maintain detailed laboratory records, ensuring compliance with established protocols, quality control measures, and regulatory guidelines.

• Stay updated with external advancements and scientific literature in the field of antibody discovery and characterization.

• Promote the external reputation of our company’s Discovery Biologics team.

Qualifications:

Education: 

• Bachelor’s (with 3+ years postgrad experience) or Master’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, cellular biology or related discipline and relevant professional laboratory research experience listed below

Required Experience and Skills: 

Demonstrated experience in a broad range of activities for antibody function including, but not limited to:

• Binding affinity measurements such as Octet BLI, Biacore SPR, KinExA
• Binding immunoassays such as ELISA, Gyro
• Immunoprecipitation, gel or capillary electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, CE-SDS) and Western blot 

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

• Experience advancing biotherapeutic programs into the clinic and driving scientific or platform innovations 

• Cell culture, maintenance and transfection

• Bead and cell-based flow cytometry experience

• Reporter and primary cell-based assays

#EligibleforERP 

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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:

Relocation:

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