Associate Principal Scientist, Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism & Bioanalytics Full-time

Associate Principal Scientist

At our Company, we are inspired by the belief that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to scientific excellence can create medicines that save and improve lives. Every employee is building on our proud legacy of scientific breakthrough. Our ability to impact the lives of patients worldwide depends on the integrity, creativity, humility, and scientific acumen of our team. We are creating a diverse organization that is inspired by invention and founded on a culture of respect and collaboration. At our Research & Development Division in South San Francisco, you'll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaboration with talented and dedicated colleagues while advancing your career.

The SSF Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics (PDMB) group is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to contribute to our Company's biologics, drug conjugates, and novel modality discovery and development pipeline. The Associate Principal Scientist will be primarily discovery team-facing and is expected to be a key contributor to the multi-disciplinary drug discovery effort for various therapeutics (biologic therapeutics, antibody-drug conjugate, peptide, small molecule). Therapeutic areas will include immunology, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and ophthalmology.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project-team representative for biologics or other modality drug discovery and development. Contribute to overall team strategy and lead the formation and execution of team-specific PDMB workflow.
• Design and execute in vitro and in vivo mechanistic and translational studies to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and metabolic properties of therapeutic proteins, such as drug conjugates and other modalities, to influence drug design, lead selection, and drive PK/PD translations. Be accountable for providing timely and high-quality PDMB data deliverables to teams.
• Author regulatory documents from FIH through registrational filing.
• Contribute to departmental scientific initiatives and strategies.
• Foster a high-performance culture of innovation, collaboration, engagement, self-accountability, and inclusion.
• Stay abreast of external scientific advancements and contribute to the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and methodologies in DMPK for drug discovery.

Position qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• PhD (3+ year) or MS (+8 years) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biology, or related scientific field).

Required Experience and Skills:

• Broad knowledge of ADME science and in-depth knowledge in at least one area (e.g. pharmacokinetics, human dose predictions, TPK/PD, etc.).
• Has fundamental understanding of drug discovery and/or development of biologic drug candidates.
• Has basic experience with Certara Phoenix Software.
• Works independently with some technical & strategic guidance from scientific supervisor.
• Capable of solving complex problems outside of own area of expertise.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, problem solving, and collaboration skills along with strengths in delivering results in fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated inclination towards recognition in the field, creativity, and innovation via a strong publication/presentation record.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior experience with multiple therapeutic modalities (e.g. small molecules, peptides, etc) and/or novel modalities.
• Prior experience evaluating the biodistribution of biologics in preclinical species.
• Knowledge in novel and translatable in vitro cellular models and/or in vivo models.
• Hands-on experience with compartmental PKPD modeling.

Required Skills:

ADME, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Antibody Therapeutics, Bioanalytical Techniques, Biological Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals, Cell-Based Assays, Communication, Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented, DMPK, Drug Discovery Process, Drug Metabolism, Mentorship, Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, PKPD Modeling, Social Collaboration, Strategic Thinking, Therapeutic Proteins

Preferred Skills:

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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:

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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.

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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 $139,600.00 – $219,700.00. 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: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No