Principal Scientist, Pharmacokinetics, Biologics

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

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Comprehensive benefits

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Boston, MA, seeks a Principal Scientist (director-level equivalent) to lead bioanalytical strategies for biologics within the PDMB group, collaborating with multi-disciplinary discovery teams.

The role emphasizes translational PK/PD, leadership of a lab-based PDMB team, and cross-functional communication to shape drug discovery programs. PhD with 6+ years or Master’s with 10+ years is required.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. with 6+ years of relevant experience or Master’s with 10 years in biochemistry/chemistry/pharmacology/pharmaceutical sciences or related field.
• Experience leading bioanalytical strategies for biologics (ligand binding assays and mass spectrometry).
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and leadership in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead bioanalytical strategies for biologics across drug discovery programs.
• Manage a lab-based PDMB team developing ligand binding assays and MS-based methods.
• Serve as project-team SME on multiple modality DMPK activities.
• Collaborate with discovery and early development teams across sites to optimize candidates.

Skills

ADME

Bioanalysis

Bioanalytical Method Development

Biologics

Cross-Functional Teamwork

Drug Development

Drug Discovery Research

Drug Metabolism

Ligand Binding

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacology

PKPD Modeling

Therapeutic Proteins

Education

Ph.D. with 6+ years relevant experience; Master’s with 10 years relevant experience

Tools

Phoenix WinNonlin

Berkeley Madonna

MATLAB

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 Boston, 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 bioanalytical efforts for biologics in our drug discovery portfolio. This position will be based at our research labs in Boston, MA. The ideal candidate will lead a group focused on bioanalytical efforts (ligand binding assays and mass spectrometry) for biologics and other modalities while also serving 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 and evaluation of bioanalytical approaches and results, 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:

• Lead bioanalytical strategies for a portfolio of drug discovery programs with a primary focus on biologics (monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, and engineered proteins), providing high quality and timely data to project teams across our Research & Development Division’s drug discovery portfolio
• Manage a team of lab-based PDMB scientists responsible for developing and executing ligand binding assays and mass spectrometry-based bioanalytical strategies
• Project-team representative and subject matter expert on multiple modality DMPK activities within the oncology and immunology therapeutic areas
• Contribute to global DMPK strategy 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 bioanalytical strategies for biologics (ligand binding assays and mass spectrometry), including method development, data generation, interpretation and report writing
• Technical ability to analyze, interpret and provide context around data describing the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, biomarker or immunogenicity properties of biologics, drug conjugates and peptides
• 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 engineering strategies to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of protein therapeutics
• Experience working within a research‑driven pharmaceutical company

Required Skills:

ADME, Bioanalysis, Bioanalytical Method Development, Biologics, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Drug Development, Drug Discovery Research, Drug Metabolism, Ligand Binding, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, PKPD Modeling, Therapeutic Proteins

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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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.

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.

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.