Senior Scientist, Discovery Oncology

Merck & Co.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Merck & Co. in Boston seeks a Senior Scientist to join the Discovery Oncology-Reverse Translation Team.

The role focuses on leveraging clinical observations and real-world data to generate biologically testable hypotheses and develop experimental models that recapitulate clinical findings. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical cancer biology expertise with a collaborative mindset, delivering mechanistic studies across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo systems while partnering with

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of cancer biology, tumor evolution, and tumor microenvironment.
• Ability to translate clinical observations into testable hypotheses and design experiments to test mechanisms of response/resistance.
• Hands-on experience with in vitro/ex vivo systems and molecular biology techniques.
• Experience with ADCs, bispecific antibodies, or small molecules.
• Familiarity with patient-derived/xenograft models and translational biomarkers.
• Experience using public genomics/pharmacology resources to identify vulnerabilities.
• Proven ability to independently design/execute/interpret experiments.
• Evidence of productivity through publications/presentations/patents.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute laboratory studies to translate clinical observations into lab hypotheses.
• Analyze complex datasets and communicate findings to project teams.
• Collaborate across translational, computational, and discovery scientists to bridge clinical findings with mechanistic studies.

Skills

Cancer biology

Tumor evolution

Translational research

In vitro & ex vivo methods

Molecular biology techniques

Flow cytometry

Public genomics datasets

Experimental design

Scientific communication

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Cancer Biology/Immunology/Molecular Biology/Biochemistry/Oncology

M.S. with 4+ years experience

B.S. with 7+ years experience

Tools

DepMap

PRISM

TCGA

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an outstanding and motivated Senior Scientist to join our growing Discovery Oncology-Reverse Translation Team in Boston.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to leverage clinical observations, real‑world evidence, patient molecular datasets, and emerging high‑resolution technologies to generate actionable biological hypotheses and develop experimental models that recapitulate clinical observations. The successful candidate will partner closely with translational, computational, and discovery scientists to bridge clinical findings with mechanistic studies using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental systems.

Working within a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, the candidate will support reverse translation initiatives aimed at elucidating mechanisms of action of oncology therapeutics, identifying mechanisms of response and resistance, prioritizing molecular pathways and therapeutic vulnerabilities emerging from clinical datasets, and informing biomarker and therapeutic strategies for relevant oncology programs. The successful candidate will design and execute laboratory studies, analyze and interpret complex biological and molecular datasets, and effectively communicate findings to project teams and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise in cancer biology with scientific curiosity, rigor, creativity, and a collaborative mindset.

Education

• Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Oncology, or a related STEM field; OR
• M.S. with 4+ years of relevant industry or academic experience; OR
• B.S. with 7+ years of relevant industry or academic experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Strong understanding of cancer biology, tumor evolution, and tumor microenvironment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate clinical observations into testable biological hypotheses and develop experimental strategies to interrogate underlying mechanisms of therapeutic response and resistance.
• Hands‑on expertise with in vitro and ex vivo experimental systems and molecular biology techniques, including gene perturbation, gene overexpression, cell line engineering, RT‑PCR, protein characterization, multi‑color flow cytometry, and functional assays.
• Experience working across varied therapeutic modalities, including antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, and/or small molecules.
• Familiarity with patient‑derived models, xenograft models, and translational biomarker approaches.
• Experience utilizing public functional genomics and pharmacology resources such as DepMap, PRISM, TCGA, or related datasets to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities, prioritize molecular pathways, and generate biologically meaningful hypotheses.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, analyze, and interpret experiments.
• Evidence of scientific productivity through publications, presentations, or patents.
• Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, matrixed research environment while managing multiple priorities.

Required Skills

• Assay Development, Biologics, Biomarkers, Cancer Biology, Cell Culture Techniques, Drug Target Identification, Immunoassays, Immunology, In Vitro Research, Molecular Biology Techniques, Molecular Oncology, Multi‑Color Flow Cytometry, Oncology, Small Molecules, Transcriptomics, Tumor Microenvironment

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.

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 affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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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.

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The primary location for this posting is: USA - Massachusetts - Boston (MA Parcel B Laboratory)

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $119,100.00 - $187,500.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits .

Additional location(s)

Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

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

Relocation: Domestic

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): Standard lab reagents

Job Posting End Date: 11/9/2026

*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: R424382