Principal Scientist, Translational Neuroscience

Merck; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a physician-scientist to serve as Principal Scientist (Clinical Director) in Translational Medicine/Early Clinical Development within the Neuroscience Therapeutic Area in the US. The role emphasizes leadership across basic, translational, and clinical research to advance novel therapeutics for neurologic and psychiatric diseases.

You will collaborate with discovery scientists, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, and global trials teams, leading early clinical development strategy

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree: MD or MD/PhD (or international equivalent) required.
• Experience in biomedical research with a track record of scientific scholarship and achievement.
• Clinical medicine experience including residency training.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to identify and validate novel targets and design preclinical and clinical experiments.
• Advance therapeutics from preclinical to early clinical development.
• Develop and execute clinical pharmacology studies across phases I–IV and support regulatory submissions.

Skills

Biomedical Research

Clinical Development

Clinical Medicine

Clinical Research

Clinical Trial Planning

Cross-Functional Teamwork

Neuroscience Research

Neurologic Disorders

Translational Research

Education

MD/MD-PhD

Job description

Merck is seeking a physician-scientist to serve as Principal Scientist (Clinical Director) in Translational Medicine/Early Clinical Development within the Neuroscience Therapeutic Area in the US. The role emphasizes leadership across basic, translational, and clinical research to advance novel therapeutics for neurologic and psychiatric diseases.

You will collaborate with discovery scientists, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, and global trials teams, leading early clinical development strategy