Lead Downstream Modeling Scientist, Biologics

Merck & Co.; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to join the DSCS Process Modeling & Analytics team in a hybrid role in the U.S.

This senior scientist will apply mechanistic modeling to downstream processes, including preparative chromatography, and guide resin and mode selection, gradient design, and scale‑up decisions. They will partner with DSP scientists and process engineers, build validated models, mentor junior staff, and drive the roadmap for mechanistic simulation across

Qualifications

• Chemical engineering background with deep grounding in preparative chromatography, transport in porous media, and separation science.
• Hands-on experience building, calibrating, and validating mechanistic chromatography models in CADET, GoSilico, or equivalent tools.
• Working knowledge of rate models and isotherm formulations (Langmuir, SMA, etc.) and their limits.
• Experience with parameter estimation: designing calibration experiments, fitting isotherms and mass-transfer coefficients, and assessing identifiability and uncertainty.
• Experience applying mechanistic models to decisions in resin/mode selection, gradient design, robustness, or scale‑up.
• Ability to validate simulations against experimental data and communicate model credibility and uncertainty to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build, calibrate, and validate mechanistic chromatography models in CADET, GoSilico, or equivalent tools for capture, polishing, and viral clearance steps.
• Design calibration studies with DSP experiments to identify model parameters.
• Apply calibrated models to guide resin/mode selection, gradient and loading strategy, cycle design, and scale‑up decisions.
• Extend mechanistic modeling to adjacent downstream unit operations such as viral inactivation kinetics, UF/DF, and depth filtration.
• Own end‑to‑end modeling project execution and communicate predictions and limitations to cross‑functional teams.
• Mentor junior scientists on mechanistic modeling and grow the team’s capability.

Skills

Chromatography modeling

Downstream processing

Numerical simulation

Parameter estimation

Model validation

Mentorship

Technical leadership

Python

CADET

GoSilico

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or Bioengineering (3+ yrs industrial experience)

M.S. in Chemical Engineering or Bioengineering (5+ yrs industrial experience)

B.S. in Chemical Engineering or related field (7+ yrs industrial experience)

Tools

CADET

GoSilico

Python

Job description

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to join the DSCS Process Modeling & Analytics team in a hybrid role in the U.S.

This senior scientist will apply mechanistic modeling to downstream processes, including preparative chromatography, and guide resin and mode selection, gradient design, and scale‑up decisions. They will partner with DSP scientists and process engineers, build validated models, mentor junior staff, and drive the roadmap for mechanistic simulation across