Senior Scientist, Neuroimmunology, Biology-Discovery

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

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

401(k) participation

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Merck & Co. in the United States is seeking a laboratory-based scientist to join the Neuroimmunology team.

This role focuses on in vitro and in vivo studies, neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration, and translational biology, with responsibility for mechanistic insights into microglial biology and disease targets. You will design experiments, lead data interpretation, collaborate across pharmacology, immunology and biomarker sciences, and contribute to program strategy and decision-making with

Qualifications

• PhD in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or related STEM field; postdoc industry experience preferred.
• Alternative: Master's with 8+ years pharmaceutical/biotech industry experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience with rodent in vivo studies and mouse models of CNS disease.

Responsibilities

• Lead in vitro and in vivo procedures and downstream analyses.
• Design and execute studies; interpret complex datasets; communicate findings to cross-functional teams.
• Generate pharmacology, efficacy, biomarker, and mechanistic data to support target validation.
• Perform CNS immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, molecular profiling, histology.
• Collaborate across pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, biomarker sciences and data science.
• Provide scientific leadership; influence program strategy with data-driven recommendations.

Skills

In Vivo Models

Flow Cytometry

Immunohistochemistry

Molecular Biology

Omics Approaches

Pharmacology

Neurodegeneration

Neuroimmunology

Data Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Education

PhD in Neuroscience/Immunology/Cell Biology/Pharmacology or related STEM field

Master's with 8+ years industry experience

Tools

Flow cytometry

Immunophenotyping

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated, laboratory-based scientist to join the Neuroimmunology team at our Company. This role is ideal for a hands‑on experimentalist with expertise in preclinical models, neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration, and translational biology. The successful candidate will independently design and execute in vitro and in vivo studies, generate mechanistic insights into microglial biology, and contribute to the discovery of novel therapies for CNS diseases.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a hands‑on scientist conducting in vitro and in vivo procedures and downstream analyses.
• Play a key role in supporting pipeline programs by designing and executing studies, interpreting complex datasets, and communicating findings to cross‑functional teams
• Generate and interpret pharmacology, efficacy, biomarker, and mechanistic datasets to support target validation and drug discovery programs.
• Perform CNS immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, molecular profiling, and histological analyses.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, biologics, biomarker sciences, and data science.
• The individual is expected to provide strong scientific leadership, contribute to program strategy, and influence decision‑making through data‑driven recommendations

Required Qualifications

Education and experience:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field; postdoctoral industry experience highly preferred.

OR

Master's degree Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field with:

• Minimum 8+years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience.

Required Skills:

• Extensive hands‑on experience with rodent in vivo studies
• Experience with mouse models of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, or CNS disease.
• Expertise in flow cytometry, CNS immune cell isolation, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology techniques.
• Proficiency with omics approaches (RNA‑seq, single‑cell technologies) and data analysis.
• Strong experimental design, statistical analysis, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a cross‑functional research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry experience supporting discovery or early development programs in CNS disorders.
• Experience with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, or related neurodegenerative diseases.
• Hands‑on experience with transgenic rodent models, including behavioral, pharmacology, and biomarker studies.
• Experience with primary microglia cultures, macrophages, immune cell assays, or iPSC‑derived CNS cell systems.
• Familiarity with translational biomarkers, PK/PD relationships, and mechanism‑based drug development.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary drug discovery teams and advancing programs from target validation through candidate selection.
• Prior experience leading collaborative projects, in particular, the ability to coordinate activities across multiple functions will be an important consideration

The ideal candidate is a highly independent scientist who enjoys working at the bench, excels in vivo experimentation, and is passionate about advancing innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills: Assay Development, Cell Culture Techniques, Immunoassays, Immunology, In Vivo Models, Neurodegeneration, Neuroimmunology, Omics, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacology

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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/International

VISA Sponsorship: Yes

Travel Requirements: No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): OEB4, BSL2, Standard lab reagents

Job Posting End Date: 11/6/2026

*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: R424546