Associate Principal Scientist – Purification Scientist Full-time

Associate Principal Scientist

Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to use innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust scientific methodology, we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.

As an Associate Principal Scientist in the multiscale separations team within the Separations Sciences team of Analytical Enabling Capabilities, you will work within a highly collaborative team to enable the advancement of the development pipeline. You will be primarily responsible for developing analytical and preparative methods for small molecule pharmaceuticals but also peptides, protein-based therapeutics, and emerging modalities. You will work side by side with (bio)process scientists to deploy innovative separation, analysis, and characterization strategies to accelerate the development of new medicines and vaccines. To accelerate the development of new medicines and vaccines, you will partner with bioprocess and analytical scientists to deploy efficient and fit-for-purpose bio/chemical isolation methods, establish innovative purification workflows, and to deliver high purity and enriched materials to enable additional characterization. As a member of our team, you will be joining a group of scientific problem solvers, who are dedicated to creating the life-changing products of tomorrow.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. in biochemistry/chemistry or a related field with 3-5 years of experience in biopharmaceutical industry or related industry.
• M.S. with a minimum of 8 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical or related industry

Required Experience and Skills:

• Hands-on experience with HPLC/UPLC method development for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as well as peptides/proteins as applicable.
• Bio separation techniques for mAbs/ADCs, including Protein A/affinity capture, ion exchange (CEX/AEX), size exclusion (SEC), hydrophobic interaction (HIC), and reversed-phase chromatography.
• Protein purification experience for mAbs/ADCs (analytical and preparative), including capture/polishing chromatography, fraction collection, desalting/buffer exchange, and yield/purity assessment.
• Sample preparation and handling for mAbs/ADCs (e.g., minimizing adsorption/degradation, controlling free drug carryover, appropriate buffers/excipients, filtration/centrifugation, and storage conditions).
• Experience with mAb/ADC characterization (e.g., identity, purity/impurities, aggregation/fragmentation, charge variants, and drug-related attributes) using LC and orthogonal techniques.
• For ADCs: experience with key analytical readouts such as drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) and free drug/payload-related impurities (e.g., using HIC, RP-LC, and/or LC-MS)

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Deep appreciation of the interplay between chemical structure and physical properties.
• Analytical and preparative purification techniques, target isolation and characterization tools (Prep chromatography, MS etc.).
• Familiarity with biophysical/biochemical characterization techniques for proteins (e.g., SEC-MALS, CE, icIEF, DLS, SDS-PAGE).
• Familiarity with mAb/ADC structural characterization workflows (e.g., intact and/or subunit LC-MS, reduced/non-reduced analyses, peptide mapping and glycan profiling).
• Knowledge of multidimensional separation techniques (2DLC)

Required Skills: Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Method Development, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Assay Development, Biological Assay Development, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Cell-Based Assays, Centrifugation, Chromatographic Techniques, Chromatography, Column Chromatography, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Design Management, External Collaboration, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Mentorship, Optimism, Peptide Mapping, Physical Properties {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

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:

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.

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 – $224,100.00. 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.