Principal Translational Biomarkers Scientist - Neuroscience

Merck

Boston (MA)

Hybrid

USD 173,000 - 273,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks a Principal Scientist to provide strategic biomarker leadership across Neuroscience programs, guiding translational and clinical biomarker strategies from early to late development.

The role focuses on integrating disease biology, pharmacodynamics, and patient heterogeneity to generate decision-ready evidence, with collaboration across Discovery, Clinical Development, and Regulatory teams.

Qualifications

Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent advanced scientific degree with 10+ years of relevant experience in neuroscience, translational medicine, neurobiology, biomarker science, drug development, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead integrated biomarker strategies across Neuroscience programs, in partnership with cross-functional development teams.
Translate disease biology and therapeutic mechanism into clear translational hypotheses and fit-running biomarker approaches.
Define how biomarkers can inform key development questions including proof of biology, target engagement, dose and regimen selection, patient stratification, response assessment, and go/no-go decisions.
Ensure biomarker strategies are focused and scalable, with clear linkage between the development question, proposed measurement, expected result, and potential action.
Serve as the biomarker representative on cross-functional program teams and provide strategic biomarker input to program-level decision making.
Partner closely with Discovery, Clinical Development, Quantitative Sciences, Regulatory, Data Science, Clinical Operations, and other functions to develop integrated translational strategies.
Lead the interpretation of biomarker and clinical datasets and translate complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
Identify opportunities to understand disease heterogeneity, therapeutic response, resistance or non-response, and biological drivers of clinical outcomes.
Develop biomarker strategies to address areas such as target engagement, pathway modulation, disease biology, pharmacodynamic response, and patient stratification, utilizing modalities such as fluid sampling, imaging, or digital, as appropriate.
Evaluate emerging biomarker technologies and analytical approaches based on their ability to address meaningful development questions.
Communicate biomarker strategies, results, risks, and recommendations clearly to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders.
Provide scientific guidance and mentorship to biomarker scientists and contribute to a collaborative, strategically focused biomarker organization.
Drive publications, scientific presentations, external collaborations, and interactions with key external experts as appropriate.