Senior Principal Scientist, Biophysics

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Principal Scientist to join our collaborative Biophysics group within the Mass Spectrometry & Biophysics department in Quantitative Biosciences. The Biophysics group is part of a multi-disciplinary team focused on enabling lead identification to advance our drug discovery pipeline across diverse therapeutic areas. We work in a dynamic, discovery research environment and utilize state-of-the-art biophysical techniques to identify novel ligands from multiple modalities such as fragments, small molecules, peptides, and therapeutic proteins.

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

Key Responsibilities:

The Senior Principal Scientist, Biophysics will be accountable for:

• Overseeing a portfolio of projects in the early discovery space and for serving as a representative for our department on cross-functional program teams.

• Leading from the bench and contributing to the training, growth and development of scientists within the team, including through management of direct reports.

• Designing, developing and executing biophysical assays supporting all stages of drug discovery with an emphasis on screening, hit validation & hit-to-lead activities.

• Providing an integrated biophysical characterization of screening hits, tool molecules and early leads spanning a range of therapeutic modalities (small molecules, peptides and proteins) in collaboration with adjacent functions.

• Serving as a technical lead and biophysics point of contact for stakeholders, ensuring timely and consistent data reporting to our network.

• Staying abreast of advancements in the field & driving innovation through technology development, external collaboration & long-range capability planning.

• Fostering a high-performance culture of inclusion, collaboration, engagement and self-accountability.

• Promoting the external reputation of our department through publications and participating in external symposia (co-organizing, chairing & presenting).

Education:

• Post-graduate degree in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or another related field with 12+ years of relevant industry experience: Ph.D. (12+ years), M.Sc. (15+ years) or B.Sc. (20+ years).

Required Skills & Experience:

• Broad, in-depth knowledge of biophysical techniques integral to drug discovery such as SPR, ITC, MST, spectroscopy and thermal shift assays.

• Demonstrated expertise in the determination of binding kinetics and thermodynamics and their impact on drug action.

• Track record of success advancing hits from screening campaigns into lead optimization and early clinical development.

• Demonstrated success as a high-performing member of cross-functional, drug discovery teams.

• Experience performing technology evaluations & making recommendations on investments designed to maintain a leadership position in the field.

• Demonstrated passion for talent development and for championing a diverse and inclusive culture.

• Prior experience in leadership and direct/indirect management roles in an early drug discovery setting.

• Strong external reputation as evidenced through high-impact publications, presentations, and scientific community engagement.

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with a proven track-record of maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience in biophysical characterization of integral membrane proteins and/or protein complexes is desired.

• Expertise in biochemistry, enzymology and/or protein production (construct design, expression & purification) is advantageous.

• Prior experience with affinity-based screening approaches (FBLD, mRNA-display, DNA encoded libraries, affinity-selection mass spectrometry) is beneficial.

• Experience in outsourcing and managing external collaborations (including CROs) is advantageous.

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

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 salary range for this role is

$187,000.00 – $294,400.00

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Required Skills:

Biochemical Assays, Biochemical Assays, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Culture Techniques, Disease Models, Drug Discovery Process, Flow Cytometry, Immunochemistry, Lentivirus Production, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Molecular Biology, Molecular Microbiology, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Professional Networking, Project Team Development, Protein Purifications, Results-Oriented, Science, Social Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Therapeutic Proteins {+ 1 more}

 Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

07/11/2025

*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.

Apply now >