Associate Principal Scientist, Immunology Discovery

MSD; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD seeks an Associate Principal Scientist to lead translational discovery in immune biology, leveraging patient samples, ex vivo models, and multi‑omics data to drive decision‑enabling translational packages.

You will design complex experiments, develop relevant models, and integrate diverse datasets to connect biology with disease mechanisms and pharmacodynamics. A strong leadership presence and collaboration across functions are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in immunology, inflammation, autoimmunity, or related immune‑mediated disease biology.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, troubleshoot, and interpret complex biological experiments.
• Hands‑on experience with primary cell culture, immune‑cell assays, co‑culture systems, tissue models, or exvivo human sample platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, analyze, and interpret translational experiments to validate therapeutic targets in immunology, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
• Develop disease‑relevant in vitro, ex vivo, co‑culture, and patient‑derived tissue models.
• Integrate mechanistic, pharmacology, transcriptomic, spatial, and biomarker data to connect target biology with disease pathophysiology and mechanism of action.
• Generate decision‑enabling data packages to support target prioritization, candidate progression, biomarker hypotheses, and patient selection.
• Apply deep immunology expertise to design fit‑for‑purpose experiments and address key scientific questions.
• Introduce innovative translational models, technologies, and analytical platforms.
• Represent the function on project teams and communicate plans, progress, risks, and recommendations clearly.
• Collaborate with discovery biology, translational medicine, biomarker sciences, data science, pharmacology, clinical development, academia, and CRO partners.
• Mentor junior scientists through scientific guidance, experimental oversight, and data interpretation support.
• Promote scientific rigor, high‑quality documentation, inclusion, and a one‑team mindset.

Skills

Immunology

Cell Biology

Cell Cultures

Immunology Research

Immunotherapy

Inflammatory Diseases

Molecular Cell Biology

Translational Research

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's (with 13+ years), Master's (with 9+ years) or Ph.D. (with 5+ years) in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, translational science, biomedical sciences or related discipline and relevant experience

Tools

Flow cytometry

Cytokine profiling

Imaging

Multiplex tissue analysis

Spatial biology

Transcriptomics

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Principal Scientist will lead translational discovery activities through strong expertise in immune cell biology, human disease models, assay development, and data interpretation. The candidate will use primary immune cell systems, ex vivo patient samples, co‑culture models, tissue analyses, and multi‑omics datasets to build decision‑enabling translational packages.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, execute, analyze, and interpret translational experiments to validate therapeutic targets in immunology, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
• Develop disease‑relevant in vitro, ex vivo, co‑culture, and patient‑derived tissue models.
• Integrate mechanistic, pharmacology, transcriptomic, spatial, and biomarker data to connect target biology with disease pathophysiology and mechanism of action.
• Generate decision‑enabling data packages to support target prioritization, candidate progression, biomarker hypotheses, and patient selection.
• Apply deep immunology expertise to design fit‑for‑purpose experiments and address key scientific questions.
• Introduce innovative translational models, technologies, and analytical platforms.
• Represent the function on project teams and communicate plans, progress, risks, and recommendations clearly.
• Collaborate with discovery biology, translational medicine, biomarker sciences, data science, pharmacology, clinical development, academia, and CRO partners.
• Mentor junior scientists through scientific guidance, experimental oversight, and data interpretation support.
• Promote scientific rigor, high‑quality documentation, inclusion, and a one‑team mindset.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's (with 13+ years), Master's (with 9+ years) or Ph.D. (with 5+ years) in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, translational science, biomedical sciences or related discipline and relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Strong foundation in immunology, inflammation, autoimmunity, or related immune‑mediated disease biology.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, troubleshoot, and interpret complex biological experiments.
• Hands‑on experience with primary cell culture, immune‑cell assays, co‑culture systems, tissue models, or exvivo human sample platforms.
• Ability to analyze biological, biochemical, immunological, and translational assay data and design follow‑up studies.
• Clear communication of complex science to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Effective collaboration across functions and ability to contribute to multiple projects in a matrixed environment.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience developing translational models of inflammatory or autoimmune disease, immune‑cell activation, tissue inflammation, or immune‑mediated pathology.
• Expertise with flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, imaging, multiplex tissue analysis, spatial biology, transcriptomics, or related platforms.
• Experience integrating human datasets with experimental models to define mechanism of action, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, responder hypotheses, or combination strategies.
• Experience supporting drug discovery from target validation through candidate nomination or early clinical translation.
• Familiarity with immune‑mediated diseases such as IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriatic disease, lupus, asthma, or atopic dermatitis.
• Experience leading external collaborations or coordinating CRO work.

Required Skills

• Autoimmune Diseases
• Cell Biology
• Cell Cultures
• Immunology
• Immunology Research
• Immunotherapy
• Inflammatory Diseases
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Translational Research

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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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.

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.

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship: Yes

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 10/11/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.