Scientist, Downstream Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, USA, seeks a Scientist to advance downstream vaccine and adjuvant process development at West Point, PA. You will design experiments, lead tech transfer, and mentor cross-functional teams across analytical, formulation, and manufacturing functions.

BS/MS in engineering or biosciences with hands-on bioprocess development is required; strong collaboration skills and ability to travel are needed in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or biosciences required.
• Strong background in downstream bioprocess purification and scaling.
• Experience in pharma/biotech settings preferred.
• Willingness to work with infectious agents, travel, and irregular hours.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyze downstream adjuvant process development experiments.
• Lead downstream process design and development for adjuvant candidates.
• Represent function in cross-functional vaccine development teams.
• Lead tech transfer of adjuvant processes for clinical and commercial use.
• Mentor team members and provide technical guidance across downstream bioprocessing.

Skills

Adaptability

Analytical Chemistry

Biochemistry

Bioprocess Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Data Analysis

Laboratory Analytical Techniques

Molecular Biology

Molecular Cloning

Product Development

Protein Purifications

Education

BS or MS in engineering or bio/chemical sciences

Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology

For BS candidates, 2+ years pharma/biotech experience

For MS candidates, 1+ year bioprocess/biotech post-grad

Job description

Job Description

Scientist - Downstream Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D

Our company in the United States and Canada, is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company - one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, unique perspectives, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Applications are sought for an opportunity in the Vaccine and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D department, which is part of our company's Research Labs division of our company. The individual will support our company's downstream process development efforts for Vaccine programs at West Point, PA.

Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D is responsible for the development and clinical manufacturing of Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product Intermediates (DPI) for the vaccine and advanced therapy pipeline, spanning from preclinical to commercialization stages. We are part of the Process R&D organization, which enables modality-agnostic DS/DPI process development and clinical manufacturing for our company's pipeline. Our vaccines downstream process development team develops safe, scalable, robust, cost-effective downstream processes that enable clinical and commercial manufacture of vaccines and adjuvants across all vaccine modalities.

We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced Scientist to join us at our research and development site in West Point, PA. The candidate will be responsible for scientific/technical contributions and leadership of adjuvant process development, and will also be a critical member of cross-functional program/project teams.

This role will require frequent collaboration with cross-functional teams including Analytical, Formulation, Process Chemistry, Enabling Technologies, and Manufacturing colleagues. The candidate should have a strong background in adjuvant process development, including tee-mixing, extrusion, microfiltration/homogenization and filtration (tangential and normal flow).

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Independent design, execute, and analyze process development experiments to maximize adjuvant production processes, thereby de-risking later stage development and tech transfer. -
• Leadership roles in downstream process design and development for novel adjuvant candidates. -
• Represent functional area in cross-functional and strategic teams engaged in vaccine development. -
• Lead tech transfer of vaccine adjuvant processes for clinical and commercial manufacture. -
• Serve as a scientific/technical mentor. Provide technical guidance in the various aspects of downstream bioprocess/adjuvant development. -
• Support strategic initiatives and innovation in the areas of vaccine and advanced biotechnology process development. -
• Analysis of experiments through analytical techniques including HPLC, light scattering, and spectroscopy. -
• Data interpretation and presentation, manuscript/patent preparation. -

Education Minimum Requirement:

• BS or MS-in engineering or bio/chemical sciences: -
• Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology- -
• For BS candidates, at least two (2) years of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology-related position -
• For MS candidates, at least one (1) year of post-graduate experience in bioprocess/biotechnology-related position (vaccines and/or therapeutic proteins) or relevant academic research thesis. -

Required Experience and Skills:

• Must have scientific understanding of downstream bioprocess purification processes.-
• Scientific understanding of purification operations of large complex molecules.-
• Technical understanding of bioprocess scaling principles.-
• Prior hands-on bioprocess development experience through academic lab or industry experience. -
• Position requires employee to be willing to work with infectious agents, pathogens and/or potent compounds -
• Position requires occasional travel and off hour/weekend work. -
• Strong scientific and hands-on understanding of downstream bioprocess/adjuvant unit operations, biotherapeutic and/or vaccine process development and sound understanding of scale-up principles. -
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team-focused environment. -

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior hands on experience with any of the following purification bioprocesses: Tee-mixing, Extrusion, Tangential Flow Filtration, Dead-End Filtration, Microfiltration or Homogenization. -
• Experience in Process Tech Transfer to production facilities. -
• Prior hand-on experience with production or analysis of nano-particles -
• Strong understanding of, or hands-on experience in, cGMP manufacturing. -

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the ability to communicate results of his/her work in both verbal and written formats. They are also expected to demonstrate flexibility in responding to changing priorities or dealing with unexpected events. In addition to the core responsibilities outlined above, the candidate will be expected to comply with all required training and maintain a focused attention on laboratory safety for him/herself and his/her team.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioprocess Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Data Analysis, Laboratory Analytical Techniques, Molecular Biology, Molecular Cloning, Product Development, Protein Purifications

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.

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.

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

Job Posting End Date:

09/28/2026

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:

R417333

The salary range for this role is $87,300.00 - $137,400.00

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 .