Scientist, Biology-Discovery (On-site)

Merck; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in West Point, PA is seeking a dedicated scientist to join the Infectious Disease and Vaccines team in Biology-Discovery. The role focuses on developing immunoassays, evaluating preclinical immune sera, and conducting mouse immunogenicity and challenge studies in a BSL-2 setting, with emphasis on data integrity.

Candidates should have MS with 1+ year (or BS with 3+ years) in Microbiology/Immunology and hands-on experience across culture, assays, and in vivo work; excellent communication is

Qualifications

• MS with 1+ year of related experience, or BS/BA with 3+ years in Microbiology, Bacteriology, Immunology, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team.
• Develop, optimize, and implement immunoassays for vaccine antigens (ELISA, ECL).
• Evaluate preclinical immune sera in functional antibody assays (OPA/OPK, SBA).
• Contribute to mouse vaccine immunogenicity and challenge studies with bacterial pathogens.
• Work in a BSL-2 lab with strong documentation and data integrity.
• Prepare technical documents and presentations for internal discussions and regulatory submissions.

Skills

Assay Development

Immunoassays

In Vivo Models

Bacterial culture

Cell culture

Data analysis

Communication skills

MS or BS in Microbiology/Immunology

Education

MS in Microbiology/Immunology (1+ year experience)

BS in Microbiology/Immunology (3+ years experience)

Tools

GraphPad Prism

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated and highly motivated scientist to join our Infectious Disease and Vaccines team in Biology-Discovery located in West Point, PA. Our team’s objective is to solve key challenges in developing and progressing vaccine candidates for infectious disease targets. To help us achieve this goal, this individual should possess technical skills in immunoassays, functional antibody assays, bacterial and cell culture, and in vivo mouse work. This role requires not only technical proficiency but also the ability to articulate ideas and collaborate effectively within a dynamic, integrated, multidisciplinary scientific team fostering a healthy work environment.

Responsibilities Include:

• Collaborating effectively in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment, fostering open communication and collaboration
• Developing, optimizing, and implementing immunoassays for vaccine target antigens, including ELISA and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assays
• Evaluating preclinical immune sera in functional antibody assays, including opsonophagocytic killing assays (OPA/OPK) and serum bactericidal assays (SBA)
• Contributing to mouse vaccine immunogenicity and challenge studies with bacterial pathogens
• Working hands‑on in a BSL‑2 laboratory environment while maintaining high standards for safety, documentation, and data integrity
• Preparing technical documents, data summaries, and presentations for internal scientific discussions and in support of regulatory submissions

Qualifications

Education Requirement

• MS with a minimum of 1 year of related experience, or BS/BA with a minimum of 3 years of related experience, in Microbiology, Bacteriology, Immunology, or a closely related field

Required Skills

• Strong scientific and technical leadership skills
• High adaptability to a continuously evolving research landscape
• Experience working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment
• Experience with immunoassays and functional antibody assays
• Experience with bacterial culture and cell culture
• Hands‑on research experience with in vivo mouse models
• Hands‑on research experience within a BSL‑2 laboratory environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) and graphing software (GraphPad Prism)

Preferred Skills

• Bacterial vaccine research experience
• Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
• Experience with ELISA and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assays
• Experience with functional antibody assays, such as opsonophagocytic killing assays (OPA/OPK) and serum bactericidal assays (SBA)
• Hands‑on research experience with mouse vaccine immunogenicity or challenge studies
• Experience with automated liquid handling systems

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Biology, Cell Culture Techniques, Data Analysis, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Immunoassays, Immunogenicity Assays, In Vitro Assays, In Vivo Models, Microbiology

Preferred Skills:

Flow Cytometry

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. If you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 Affiantive 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.

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is

• $87,300.00 - $137,400.00

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.

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

Merck (company policy)

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:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

BSL-2

Job Posting End Date:

09/9/2026

• 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.

Requisition ID:

R413331