Associate Scientist, Post Doc Fellow- Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics

MSD; West Point (PA); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Merck & Co. in Rahway, NJ, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics. You will develop PK/PD models to support pediatric development, translating data across populations and guiding dose selection.

Collaboration with clinicians and scientists is essential for success. The role offers a hybrid work arrangement and a competitive compensation package, including an annual bonus and long-term incentives.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field by spring 2027.
• Experience with PK modeling (popPK or PBPK).
• Publication record or equivalent scientific output.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply quantitative pharmacology models.
• Translate data from multiple sources for pediatric development.
• Evaluate model performance and uncertainty.
• Present findings to multidisciplinary teams.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals or at conferences.

Skills

Pharmacokinetic modeling

Programming (R/Python)

Scientific writing

Education

PhD in pharmacology

Tools

NONMEM

Monolix

Phoenix WinNonlin

R

Job description

Be a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program

Our Research Laboratories’ Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be a best-in-industry program for industrial postdoctoral researchers, designed to provide you with an academic focus in a commercial environment. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, postdoctoral researchers will be positioned to excel in an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery.

Position Overview: Scientific Question

Half-life extended or Fc-modified biologics offer important opportunities to improve the prevention and treatment of disease, including in pediatric populations. Translating pharmacokinetic knowledge across populations remains scientifically challenging and requires fit-for-purpose quantitative approaches. The goal of the project is to advance translational pharmacokinetic modeling to support pediatric exposure prediction and dose selection using available nonclinical and clinical data. This project will focus on developing and applying quantitative modeling approaches to address key questions in pediatric drug development. The research will generate broadly applicable scientific insights, strengthen model-informed decision-making, and support the development of long-acting therapeutics.

What is the Position?

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, you will work with a collaborative team of scientists in quantitative pharmacology, preclinical ADME, translational PK/PD, and discovery biology. You will develop and apply quantitative pharmacology models to characterize pharmacokinetics, support translation across populations, and inform pediatric development. You will evaluate model assumptions and uncertainty, integrate data from multiple sources, and communicate findings to multidisciplinary research teams. All Postdoctoral Research Fellows work with a dedicated mentor, collaborate with experienced scientists, and are fully integrated into the larger Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics group.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Reviewing and curating relevant nonclinical and clinical pharmacokinetic data from published and internal sources;
• Integrating data from multiple sources to support quantitative model development, evaluation, and application;
• Developing and qualifying fit-for-purpose pharmacokinetic and translational models to address questions in pediatric drug development;
• Evaluating model performance and uncertainty and translating results into recommendations for multidisciplinary project teams;
• Present your research at conferences and/or publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Education Requirement

Must currently hold a Ph.D. OR Receive a Ph.D. no later than spring 2027 Ph.D. in mathematical biology, systems biology, statistics / biostatistics, mathematics / applied mathematics, computer science, computational biology / chemistry, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, pharmacometrics, chemical / biomedical engineering, or a related field.

Required Experience and Skills

• Experience with pharmacokinetic modeling (e.g., population PK [popPK] modeling, physiologically‑based pharmacokinetic [PBPK] modeling);
• Proficiency in at least one programming language or pharmacometrics application (e.g., R, MATLAB, Python, NONMEM, Monolix, Phoenix WinNonlin, or other language);
• Scientific writing skill, demonstrated by publication record (includes preprints).

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Knowledge of monoclonal antibody pharmacokinetic properties, respiratory viruses, pediatric pharmacology, translational modeling, or biologics drug development;
• Experiencing modeling preclinical or clinical pharmacokinetics of monoclonal antibodies;
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams that include clinicians and biologists.

We are a research‑driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research‑driven enterprise dedicated to world‑class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

The salary range for this role is: $82,000-$92,000. 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.

Additional location(s)

Compensation Information

Required Skills: ADME, Data Analysis, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Programming Languages, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing, Statistical Analysis

Preferred Skills: ADME, Data Analysis, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Programming Languages, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing, Statistical Analysis

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: Domestic VISA Sponsorship: Yes Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): N/A Job Posting End Date: 10/26/2026 *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.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.