Principal Scientist, Pharmacokinetics

RiseMe; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 176,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Boston seeks a Principal Scientist to lead DMPK efforts across modalities, driving PK/PD and ADME strategies within oncology and immunology programs.

The role requires strong leadership, translational PK/PD expertise, and collaboration with Discovery and Early Development teams in multiple sites to optimize drug candidates.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading DMPK discovery efforts in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to design and interpret DMPK optimization strategies within discovery programs.
• Experience with PK/PD data interpretation and translational relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple modality DMPK activities across oncology and immunology.
• Characterize and optimize in vitro/in vivo ADME/PK properties of small molecules and peptides.
• Design and analyze in vitro/in vivo studies to understand drug disposition on biology, PK/PD and safety.
• Manage a team of PDMB scientists for ligand binding assays and MS-based bioanalysis.
• Contribute to global DMPK strategy and collaborate across Boston, South San Francisco and West Point teams.

Skills

DMPK

ADME

PK/PD modeling

Leadership

Education

Ph.D. in biochemistry/chemistry/pharmacology or related field

Master’s with 10+ years relevant experience

Tools

Phoenix WinNonlin

Job description

Job Description

Boston Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics – Principal Scientist

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 our company has codified its legacy for over a century. Our company’s success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

At our company, we are inspired by the belief that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to scientific excellence can create medicines that save and improve lives.Every employee is building on our proud legacy of scientific breakthrough.Our ability to impact the lives of patients worldwide depends on the integrity, creativity, humility and scientific acumen of our team.We are creating an organization that is inspired by invention and founded on a culture of respect and collaboration.At our Research & Development Division, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaboration with talented and dedicated colleagues while advancing your career.

The Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics (PDMB) group is seeking a dynamic, strategic thinking and collaborative Principal Scientist (director-level equivalent) to contribute to our company’s drug discovery and early clinical development efforts. This position will be based at our research labs in Boston, MA.The ideal candidate will lead drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) efforts across multiple modalities (small molecules, peptides, protein therapeutics) as a project-team representative, regularly interacting with multi-disciplinary discovery teams and partners from other functions within our Research & Development Division. Therapeutic area support with focus on our immunology and oncology portfolios, with the potential to contribute to cardiovascular/metabolic, neuroscience and infectious disease efforts as well. The successful candidate will be expected to represent PDMB on cross-functional teams through strategic design of discovery testing funnels, generation and interpretation of PK and PK/PD data sets and through effective communication at both internal meetings and external conferences.

In this exciting position, your primary roles will include:

• Project-team representative and subject matter expert on multiple modality DMPK activities within the oncology and immunology therapeutic areas
• Characterization and optimization of the in vitro and in vivo ADME and pharmacokinetic properties of small molecules and peptide therapeutics
• Design, implementation and analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies to understand the impact of drug disposition on disease biology, pharmacological response (PK/PD) and safety
• Manage a team of lab-based PDMB scientists responsible for developing and executing ligand binding assays and mass spectrometry-based bioanalytical strategies
• Contribute to global DMPK strategy and implementation of cutting-edge ADME science through close collaboration with Discovery and Early Development project teams in Boston (MA), South San Francisco (CA) and West Point (PA) focusing on building highly efficient strategies to identify and optimize drug candidates

Education Minimum Requirement

• Ph.D (with 6+ years relevant experience) or Master’s (minimum of 10 years relevant experience) degree in biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering or related field
• Relevant experience to include a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar industrial/academic setting

Required Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading small molecule, peptide and/or protein therapeutic DMPK discovery efforts as an independent project-team representative within a highly collaborative environment
• Ability to design, optimize and interpret DMPK-related optimization strategies (discovery testing funnels) as part of a broader research operating plan
• Technical ability to analyze, interpret and provide context around data describing the ADME, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of small molecules, peptides and/or protein therapeutics, including use of software such as Phoenix WinNonlin
• Experience contributing to development and execution of translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/efficacy relationships and other useful quantitative pharmacology applications in a discovery setting
• Proven management experience, including mentorship and talent development of multiple direct reports
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, problem solving and collaborative qualities to deliver high quality results in a fast‑paced environment

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Hands‑on experience performing translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/efficacy and physiologically‑based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) software modeling (e.g., Phoenix WinNonlin, Berkeley Madonna, MATLAB).
• Proven track record supporting immunology or oncology‑based programs with experience spanning from early discovery through IND‑enabling efforts
• Familiarity with structure‑activity relationships aimed at improving pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of small molecules or peptides
• Experience working within a research‑driven pharmaceutical company

Required Skills:

• ADME, Bioanalytical Method Development, Cross‑Functional Teamwork, DMPK, Drug Metabolism, Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, PKPD Modeling, Small Molecules, Therapeutic Proteins, Translational Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PKPD)

#EligibleforERP

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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

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

$176,200.00 - $277,300.00

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

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

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.

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:

10/16/2026

*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.