Associate Scientist, Post Doc Fellow- Vaccine Preclinical Development - Experimental Medicine

MSD Malaysia; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Vaccine Preclinical Development group at the West Point, PA site.

The role focuses on exploring latent herpesvirus biology, immune dysregulation, and translational research using single-cell and systems immunology approaches. You will design and execute experiments, analyze high-dimensional data, and contribute to publications while collaborating with immunology, virology, and translational teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in immunology, virology, systems biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, or related field.
• PhD must be by spring 2027 or already held.
• No more than 3 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Expertise in immunology, virology, host-pathogen biology or related fields.
• Experience with single-cell transcriptomics and computational analysis.
• Experience with flow cytometry.
• Strong scientific writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize single-cell and high-dimensional immunology assays.
• Lead computational analysis and biomarker discovery.
• Collaborate across immunology, virology, and translational research teams.
• Present findings at internal and external meetings and contribute to manuscripts.
• Characterize immune cells from peripheral blood.

Skills

Biomarker Discovery

Cellular Immunology

Computational Biology

Functional Genomics

Immunology

Machine Learning

Molecular Biology

Single Cell Analysis

Transcriptomics

Virology

Education

PhD in Immunology, Virology, Systems Biology, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, or related field

PhD by Spring 2027

Job description

Job Description Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Vaccine Preclinical Development - Experimental Medicine

Our company is a global health care leader with a portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and consumer health products, as well as animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, , and teamwork of people like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Be a part of the legacy: Research and Development Division Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program

The 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.

Research Environment

The fellow will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment with access to established experimental and computational capabilities needed to support the project.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative candidate with expertise in virology, immunology, computational biology, or a related field to join the Vaccine Preclinical Development group at our West Point, PA site. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will work within a highly collaborative research environment to investigate the biology of latent herpesvirus reservoirs in the context of immune dysregulation and disease-associated phenotypes. The successful candidate will lead independent and collaborative research focused on the molecular characterization and computational analysis of various primary samples/tissues using high-dimensional single-cell and systems immunology approaches.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement experimental strategies to enrich and/or characterize immune cells from peripheral blood
• Perform and optimize single-cell and high-dimensional immunology assays
• Contribute to the development of computational frameworks leading to biomarker discovery
• Present findings at internal and external scientific meetings and contribute to manuscript preparation and publication
• Collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams spanning immunology, virology, and translational research

Education Minimum Requirement

Must currently hold a PhD OR Receive a Ph.D. no later than spring 2027

Ph.D. in Immunology, Virology, Systems Biology, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, or a related field

Required Experience and Skills

• No more than 3 previous years of postdoctoral experience
• Expertise in immunology, virology, host-pathogen biology, or related fields
• Expertise in single cell transcriptomics (Flex Apex, CITE-seq, Spatial Transcriptomics, etc.)
• Proficient in end-to-end computational analysis of complex biological datasets, with exposure to single-cell transcriptomic or other omics data
• Experience with flow cytometry
• Strong background in experimental design, data interpretation, and troubleshooting
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Strong scientific writing, presentation, and communication skills
• Strong publication record or evidence of productive research accomplishments

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Expertise in herpesvirus biology
• Expertise in lymphocyte responses to vaccination or infection
• Familiarity or experience with TCR/BCR repertoire sequencing and analysis
• Familiarity or experience with novel vaccine adjuvants and/or vaccine platforms
• Familiarity with BSL2 level viral pathogens
• Familiarity with biomarker development and/or translational analysis of clinical cohort datasets

Why Join Us

Our employees are the key to our company’s success. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by offering a competitive and valuable rewards program designed to support a wide range of goals, needs, and lifestyles.

We are an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V – proudly embracing in all of its manifestations. Former Military, Transitioning Service Members, National Guard & Reserves – we value your past and present service.

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.

Required Skills

• Biomarker Discovery
• Cellular Immunology
• Computational Biology
• Functional Genomics
• Immunology
• Machine Learning
• Molecular Biology
• Single Cell Analysis
• Transcriptomics
• Virology

Preferred Skills

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

Employment Information

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: Domestic
• VISA Sponsorship: Yes
• Travel Requirements: 10%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date

10/12/2026

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 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

Recruitment Policy

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Company Summary

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.