Senior Scientist, Computational Biologist (Hybrid) Full-time NEW

Senior Computational Biologist

The Digital Insights team within the DSCS Digital Technologies team, is seeking applicants for a Senior Computational Biologist with a strong background in CHO genomics and biologics/vaccine analytical testing to join our team in Cambridge, MA. The successful candidate will contribute to delivering analytical solutions that enable and accelerate process and product development to ensure safety and quality of our products. Within the Digital Insights team, the development, validation and implementation of Next Generation Sequencing applications is a key activity.

The successful candidate will be able to collaborate in a dynamic, integrated, and multidisciplinary team environment working across our biologics and vaccine pipeline. An expansive range of analytical tools (e.g. microbiology, virology, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics, etc.) will be leveraged and new technologies developed to ensure the safety and efficacy of our leading products.

Responsibilities include:

• Working within an interdisciplinary team of scientists to perform and support bioinformatic analysis of biomanufacturing processes across diverse pipeline programs
• Be intrinsically involved in performing and supporting genetic characterization, genetic stability, integration site analysis and transcriptomics.
• Design, develop and adapt computational approaches and pipelines for novel applications.
• Author technical documents and reports according to current regulatory requirements and business practices.
• Working across teams in a matrix structure, manage stakeholder relationships across IT, Analytical, Manufacturing, Process Development, Quality and Regulatory partners.
• Embody FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) to maintain a well-documented, reproducible, and versioned codebase.
• Thrive within multi-disciplinary global teams to communicate scientific findings in an exciting fast-paced environment to drive progress.

Education Requirements:

• A Ph.D. in biology, bioinformatics or related (with expected completion no later than May 2026); or M.S. with a minimum of 4+ years experience; or B.S. with a minimum of 7+ years experience in Biology or related life sciences degree with a strong bioinformatic component or a computational biology or related degree with a strong biology component.

Required Experience:

• Experience with CHO genome assembly, transcriptomics and comparative genomics.
• Strong programming experience (e.g. R, Python, Nextflow, etc.).
• Unix/Linux OS experience and Bash scripting.
• Experience working in high performance computing and cloud environments and managing data and workflows.
• Experience working with version control tools such as git (e.g. GitHub, BitBucket).
• Strong background with computational methods in one or more NGS methods and technologies (e.g. whole genome shotgun sequencing, whole genome sequencing, transcriptomics, long-read sequencing).
• Excellent collaboration, organization, and communication skills are required.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Adaptability, Assay Development, Bioinformatic Analysis, Communication, Computational Biology, Genomics, GMP Environments, Innovative Thinking, Manufacturing, Next Generation DNA Sequencing, Strategic Thinking, Technical Writing

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with bulk and single-cell RNA-seq analysis methods. Experience with metabolic modeling in CHO cells. Research experience in microbiology, virology or cell banking. Experience in sequencing-based diagnostics, including in GxP or GMP environments is advantageous but not essential. Familiarity or experience with relevant “bench” methods (e.g. PCR, sequencing library preparation, microbial culturing).

The salary range for this role is $119,100.00 – $187,500.00. 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.