Senior Scientist, Molecular and Cellular Bacteriology

Pfizer; Pearl River (NY); On-site; USD 94,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company match

Health benefits

Paid vacation/holidays

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Pfizer is seeking a Senior Scientist for vaccine preclinical research, focused on molecular and cellular bacteriology to support bacterial vaccine development. You will work with cross-functional partners to ensure robust, fit-for-purpose assays and scientifically meaningful data. Travel and relocation support are available.

The role requires advanced degrees and extensive experience in bacterial culture and data-intensive biology, with strong communication and a collaborative mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 9+ years of experience, or Master’s with 7+ years, or Ph.D. in a biology-related field.
• Hands-on experience with bacterial culture and molecular/cellular assays.
• Experience generating and interpreting complex biological datasets.
• Strong scientific writing and presentation skills, with publications.
• Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, optimize, and apply molecular and cellular assays for bacterial vaccine discovery and development.
• Culture, maintain, and characterize bacterial strains used for assay development.
• Generate and interpret laboratory data to inform vaccine target selection and coverage.
• Analyze antigen diversity and expression across isolates to assess breadth of coverage.
• Collaborate across functions to integrate datasets for decision making.
• Provide data-driven recommendations on antigen selection and vaccine coverage.
• Author scientific documents, study reports, abstracts, and regulatory submissions.
• Mentor junior scientists and guide project teams.

Skills

Bacterial culture

Molecular assays

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Cross-functional collaboration

AI tools usage

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Master’s degree in biology or related field

Ph.D. in biology-related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Scientific software

Job description

Use Your Power for Purpose

At Pfizer, our purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that transform patients' lives. Central to this mission is our Research and Development team, dedicated to translating advanced science and innovative technologies into impactful therapies and vaccines. Whether you are engaged in discovery sciences, ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs, or supporting clinical trials, you will leverage cutting‑edge design and process development capabilities. Your efforts will accelerate the delivery of best‑in‑class medicines to patients globally, fulfilling Pfizer's commitment to making a meaningful difference in healthcare.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Scientist role is a laboratory-based position and best suited for an experimental scientist with deep expertise in molecular and cellular bacteriology research to support bacterial vaccine preclinical research and development. The incumbent will enable investigations of vaccine induced protective immunity primarily via a microbiological lens of clinical disease-causing isolates by generating, analyzing, and interpreting laboratory data in a highly collaborative environment. The Senior Scientist will work closely with cross‑functional partners to ensure assay approaches are scientifically robust, fit‑for‑purpose, and aligned with program objectives, while representing the research function on multidisciplinary vaccine teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, develop, optimize, and apply molecular and cellular assays to support bacterial vaccine discovery, development, and real‑world evidence studies
• Culture, maintain, and characterize bacterial strains that are disease‑causing isolates or used for assay development
• Generate and interpret laboratory data to support identification and prioritization of vaccine target antigens
• Analyze antigen diversity and expression across disease‑causing bacterial isolates to assess antigen conservation, prevalence, and potential breadth of vaccine coverage
• Drive cross-functional collaborations to generate high-quality data and integrate multidimensional datasets for informed decision-making
• Provide scientific expertise and data-driven recommendations on antigen selection and vaccine coverage to support decision-making
• Author and contribute to scientific documents, including study reports, regulatory submissions, abstracts, and peer‑reviewed manuscripts addressing isolate characterization, antigen relevance, and coverage‑related outcomes
• Provide technical mentorship and scientific guidance to junior scientists and project team members, as appropriate
• Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance productivity.
• Demonstrated curiosity for exploring how these tools can improve outcomes and understanding of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree (with 9+ years of experience, or Master’s Degree with 7+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. in a biology‑related field.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with bacterial culture as well as molecular and cellular assays.
• Experience generating, analyzing, and interpreting complex biological datasets.
• Excellent written and verbal scientific communication skills with demonstrated experience authoring scientific abstracts and peer reviewed publications, and presenting posters or talks at national or international scientific conferences.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi‑task and work efficiently and productively in a fast‑paced and highly collaborative environment.
• Proficiency with personal computers including Microsoft Office and relevant scientific software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (Nice to have)

• Relevant industry experience in vaccine research, infectious disease, or applied biomedical research.
• Experience supporting real‑world evidence, observational, or post‑licensure studies.
• Experience with bacterial vaccine programs, including pathogens with strain or serotype diversity.

SCIENTIFIC & COLLABORATIVE CAPABILITIES

The successful candidate demonstrates scientific independence, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to influence across disciplines without formal authority. This role requires technical depth, clear scientific communication, and a commitment to high‑quality assay data generation that supports bacterial vaccine development, real‑world evidence generation, and understanding disease-causing bacterial isolates.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Working in the laboratory includes lifting items (<40 pounds) and standing as needed.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

Occasional weekend or evening work to meet critical business timelines. Occasional travel (approximately 5%) to scientific meetings, other company sites, or external partners. Relocation support available. Work Location Assignment: On Premise.

Last Day to Apply

October 25, 2026

Salary and Benefits

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $93,600.00 to $156,000.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 12.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program.

• 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage

Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com).

Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States. Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility. Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer. U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States. Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email [e-mail]. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned. To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.

Research and Development Pfizer careers are like no other. In our culture of individual ownership, we believe in our ability to improve future healthcare, and potential to transform millions of lives. We’re looking for new talent to join our global community, to unearth new innovative therapies that make the world a healthier place.