Scientist - Drug Product Development - All Genders

Merck Healthcare; Corsier-sur-Vevey; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Healthcare is seeking a Formulation Development Scientist to advance early- to late-phase protein biologics formulation, stability, and process development. You will design and execute studies, collaborate with analytical, automation, and project-team colleagues, and help translate data into scientifically sound development decisions.

You will contribute to CMC documentation, maintain data integrity, and work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with emphasis on innovation in

Qualifications

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biology, or related field; or MS with 5+ years biologics formulation experience.
• Hands-on in formulation development and physicochemical characterization of protein biologics (antibodies, fusion proteins, ADCs)
• Experience with Quality by Design, DOE, and statistical analysis
• Familiarity with analytical techniques for biologics and data interpretation
• Strong collaboration and communication skills in English

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, execute, interpret, and document phase-appropriate formulation studies for protein biologics.
• Apply knowledge of protein stability to support formulation decisions and risk reduction.
• Collaborate with analytical scientists to define characterization strategies and perform hands-on experiments.
• Partner with automation/robotics to enable high-throughput formulation workflows.
• Provide input to development plans and contribute to cross-functional project teams.
• Communicate outcomes, risks, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders.
• Prepare and review development reports for regulatory submissions and internal decisions.
• Identify new technologies and digital tools to advance formulation capabilities.

Skills

Protein biologics

Stability

Structure analysis

Data interpretation

English communication

Education

PhD in pharmaceutical sciences/related field

MS + 5+ years relevant experience in biologics formulation

Tools

Circular dichroism

FT-IR

Raman spectroscopy

DSF (differential scanning fluorimetry)

Dynamic light scattering

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

Within Global Drug Product Development, we are seeking a motivated Formulation Development Scientist with a strong background in protein biologics.

In this role, you will contribute to early-phase drug product development by designing and executing formulation, process development, stability, and administration‑simulation studies, as well as late‑phase formulation development activities. Your primary focus will be protein biologics, including monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, and antibody–drug conjugates. As the portfolio evolves, you will also have opportunities to contribute to formulation‑development activities for emerging modalities.

Reporting to the Early‑Phase Parenteral Drug Product Development Manager, you will work closely with formulation, analytical, automation, and project‑team colleagues. Together, you will generate data‑driven recommendations that reduce CMC risks and support molecule progression. You will combine hands‑on formulation science with modern automation and digital technologies, contribute to the advancement of promising protein biologics, and gain exposure to evolving modalities and development approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, plan, execute, interpret, and document phase‑appropriate drug product formulation, process development, stability, and administration‑simulation studies for protein biologics.


• Apply scientific knowledge of protein structure, stability, degradation pathways, and stabilization strategies to support formulation selection and development decisions, including early CMC risk‑reduction activities


• Collaborate with analytical scientists to define characterization strategies, interpret analytical results, and perform selected hands‑on experiments, including differential scanning fluorimetry, dynamic light scattering, spectroscopic measurements, and stability assessments, as needed.


• Partner with automation and robotics experts to execute and improve automated or high‑throughput formulation‑development workflows.


• Provide scientific input to formulation‑development plans, project strategies, and technical discussions within cross‑functional project teams, and represent drug product development in CMC sub‑teams.


• Communicate study outcomes, technical risks, and recommendations clearly to colleagues and project stakeholders.


• Author and review development reports and contribute to documentation supporting internal decisions, regulatory submissions, and responses.


• Identify and assess new technologies, analytical approaches, and digital tools; contribute to establishing formulation‑development capabilities for emerging modalities; and maintain high standards for data quality, laboratory safety, scientific documentation; share technical knowledge and support onboarding or development of colleagues where appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, pharmacy, biology, biotechnology, or a related field, with initial relevant industrial or postdoctoral experience preferred; or a master’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least five years of relevant experience in biologics formulation development or characterization.


• Strong scientific understanding of protein structure, physical and chemical stability, degradation mechanisms, and formulation‑stabilization strategies.


• Hands‑on experience in the formulation development and/or physicochemical characterization of protein biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, or antibody–drug conjugates is a must. Exposure to the formulation development of emerging modalities, such as antibody–oligonucleotide conjugates is a plus.


• Experience designing and interpreting development studies using Quality by Design principles, design of experiments, and statistical analysis.


• Familiarity with analytical techniques used to characterize biologic drug products is a must. Hands‑on experience with characterization techniques such as circular dichroism, FT‑IR, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, differential scanning fluorimetry, or dynamic light scattering is a plus.


• Ability to evaluate data critically, solve technical problems, and translate results into scientifically sound recommendations.


• Ability to work independently on assigned activities while seeking guidance for complex technical or strategic decisions.


• Strong collaboration skills, the ability to work effectively across scientific disciplines in a dynamic project environment, and excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English.


• Experience contributing to CMC development documentation and/or regulatory submissions is a plus

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!