Senior Downstream Bioprocess Modeling Scientist

Merck; West Point (PA); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks an Associate Principal Scientist to join the Process Modeling & Analytics team within the DSCS Digital Technologies unit. The role focuses on mechanistic modeling of downstream biologics processes, with emphasis on preparative chromatography and adjacent unit operations.

You will build calibrated models, guide resin and gradient design, and mentor peers. You will collaborate with DSP scientists and process engineers to translate model outputs into actionable purification

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or closely-related field with 3+ years industrial/pharma experience.
• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or closely-related field with 5+ years industrial/pharma experience.
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or closely-related field with 7+ years industrial/pharma experience.
• Hands-on experience building, calibrating, and validating mechanistic chromatography models in CADET, GoSilico, or equivalent.
• Experience with rate models (general-rate, lumped, transport-dispersive) and isotherm formulations (Langmuir, SMA, etc.).
• Ability to validate simulations against experimental data and communicate model credibility and uncertainties.

Responsibilities

• Build, calibrate, and validate mechanistic chromatography models for downstream processing.
• Plan calibration datasets and parameter estimation studies with DSP teams.
• Apply models to guide resin/mode selection, gradient loading, and scale-up decisions.
• Extend modeling to adjacent downstream unit operations (viral inactivation, UF/DF, depth filtration).
• Lead end-to-end modeling projects and communicate predictions to stakeholders.
• Mentor junior scientists and grow downstream modeling capability across the team.
• Shape the downstream modeling roadmap and establish modeling standards.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Scientific leadership

Mentorship

Problem solving

Communication of model credibility

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or Bioengineering

M.S. in Chemical Engineering or related field

B.S. in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

CADET

GoSilico

Job description

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks an Associate Principal Scientist to join the Process Modeling & Analytics team within the DSCS Digital Technologies unit. The role focuses on mechanistic modeling of downstream biologics processes, with emphasis on preparative chromatography and adjacent unit operations.

You will build calibrated models, guide resin and gradient design, and mentor peers. You will collaborate with DSP scientists and process engineers to translate model outputs into actionable purification