Senior Scientist, Respiratory Discovery Full-time

Senior Scientist

The Senior Scientist will join the Respiratory Biology Discovery group and contribute to target identification, translational biology, and mechanism-of-action studies supporting early discovery programs in chronic lung diseases, including COPD, bronchiectasis, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and inflammatory airway diseases.

The successful candidate will apply human-relevant in vitro and ex vivo experimental systems, with an emphasis on primary airway epithelial biology, mesenchymal and immune-epithelial interactions, disease-relevant functional assays, and translational biomarkers. This individual will generate high-quality mechanistic datasets, support biomarker discovery and translational efforts, and collaborate closely within multidisciplinary discovery and translational teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, execute, and interpret in vitro and ex vivo studies to support respiratory target validation and translational biology programs
• Develop and apply human-relevant experimental systems, including primary airway epithelial cultures, air-liquid interface (ALI) models, immune cell assays, and co-culture platforms
• Generate mechanistic and disease-relevant datasets using molecular, cellular, imaging, and biomarker-based approaches
• Apply imaging techniques, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and high-content imaging, with image-based analysis to interrogate epithelial and inflammatory biology
• Perform and interpret flow cytometry/FACS-based immune and cellular phenotyping studies
• Support translational biomarker discovery and validation using multiplex immunoassay platforms (e.g., Meso Scale Discovery, Luminex, Olink)
• Conduct molecular and cellular biology assays, including cell culture, PBMC isolation, PCR/qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, protein detection, and functional cellular assays
• Characterize disease-relevant biological pathways in chronic lung diseases, including inflammatory, epithelial, fibrotic, and immune mechanisms
• Generate reproducible, high-quality datasets to inform project decisions, translational hypotheses, and program progression
• Communicate scientific findings effectively through presentations, data reviews, and written reports
• Collaborate closely across biology, pharmacology, DMPK, and translational/clinical functions within a matrixed discovery environment

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's (with 7+ years), Master's (with 4+ years) or Ph.D. biology, immunology, pharmacology, physiology, pulmonary biology or related discipline and relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in primary human cell culture systems, particularly airway epithelial biology and/or air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures
• Strong hands-on wet lab experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques
• Experience with flow cytometry/FACS and multiplex biomarker platforms (e.g., Meso Scale Discovery, Luminex, Olink, AlphaLISA)
• Expertise in imaging-based approaches, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), histology, and image analysis
• Ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experimental studies
• Solid understanding of respiratory disease biology, including inflammatory and epithelial mechanisms relevant to chronic lung diseases
• Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills with ability to present and discuss data in cross-functional settings

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior experience in respiratory drug discovery and translational research environments
• Experience with immune-epithelial co-culture systems and/or macrophage biology
• Familiarity with transcriptomic datasets, including bulk or single-cell RNA sequencing
• Experience with barrier function assays (TEER), live-cell imaging, or spatial biology approaches

Required Skills:

Cell Cultures, Cell Culture Techniques, Cellular Biology Techniques, Ex Vivo, Flow Cytometry, Imaging Techniques, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Immunology, In Vitro Studies, Molecular Biology, Primary Cell Culture, Pulmonary Disease Research

Preferred Skills:

Salary range for this role is $131,400.00 – $206,800.00

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.