Senior Scientist, Synthetic Purification (On-site)

MSD; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD in Rahway, NJ is seeking a Senior Scientist, Synthetic Purification to advance purification workflows from analytical to prep scale for small molecules, peptides, and conjugates. You will collaborate with process chemists and analytical scientists to deliver high-purity materials for development pipelines.

The role requires a Ph.D. in chemistry or an MS with 5+ years in biopharma, extensive chromatography expertise (RPLC/NPLC/SFC), mass spectrometry, and strong scientific communication.

Qualifications

• PhD in synthetic, natural product, analytical chemistry or related field.
• MS with ≥5 years in the biopharma industry preferred.
• Experience in analytical, semi-prep/prep scale chromatography (RPLC, NPLC, SFC).
• Mass spectrometry applications in chromatographic purification.
• Working knowledge of PDA, MALS, CAD or related detectors.
• Excellent scientific writing and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead chromatographic isolation from analytical to prep scale for small molecules and peptides.
• Develop and optimize purification workflows with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with process chemists and analytical scientists to enable pipeline progress.
• Publish and present results to internal stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical Chemistry

Analytical Method Development

Assay Development

Biopharmaceuticals

Chromatography

Mass Spectrometry

UPLC

Purification Methods

Small Molecules

Synthetic Chemistry

Chemical Synthesis

Method Development

Technical Writing

Education

Ph.D. in Synthetic Chemistry, Natural product chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or related field

MS with ≥5 years in Biopharmaceutical industry

Tools

RPLC, NPLC, SFC

Mass spectrometry

PDA

MALS

CAD

Job description

Senior Scientist, Synthetic Purification (On-site)*This site uses cookies to provide you with an optimal user experience. The cookies include Strictly Necessary and Functional cookies to ensure the site operates as intended (language preference, time zone and workload balance). These cookies are first party cookies, end with the session and are exempted from consent. In addition, this site also uses a Google Analytics Cookie to measure and improve the performance of our site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. By clicking on the ‘Accept Cookies’ button, you are accepting this Performance cookie. You may use this site if you click on the ‘Reject Cookies’ button. To revoke your consent of the Performance cookie, clear your cookies within your browser settings.*### Senior Scientist, Synthetic Purification (On-site)Apply: Not Applicable: USA - New Jersey - Rahway: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 13, 2026 (7 days left to apply): R425747**Job Description**Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to use innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust scientific methodology, we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.As a Senior Scientist in the multiscale separations team within the Separations Sciences team of Analytical Enabling Capabilities, you will work within a highly collaborative team to enable the advancement of the development pipeline. You will be primarily responsible for chromatographic isolation of pharmaceutical API and impurities from analytical scale to semi-prep scale and prep scale, covering the space of small molecules, peptides, conjugate-based modalities as well as emerging modalities in our portfolio. To accelerate the development of new medicines and vaccines, you will partner with process chemists and analytical scientists to deploy efficient and fit-for-purpose chemical isolation methods, to establish innovative purification workflows, and to deliver high purity materials. As a member of our team, you will be joining a diverse group of scientific problem solvers, who are dedicated to creating the life-changing products of tomorrow.**Education Minimum Requirements:*** Ph.D. in Synthetic Chemistry, Natural product chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or a related field.* M.S. with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the Biopharmaceutical industry.**Required Experience and Skills:*** Experience in analytical, semi-prep/prep scale chromatography (RPLC, NPLC, SFC), technologies, instrumentation, and workflows, with demonstrated experience in its applications in chiral, achiral isolation of challenging pharmaceutical mixtures to support a variety of pharmaceutical modalities including small molecules, peptides, antibody-drug conjugates and vaccines adjuvants etc.* Experience in mass spectrometry and its application in MS-directed chromatographic purification.* Working knowledge of orthogonal detection technologies, including PDA, Multi-angle light scattering, charged aerosol detection *etc.** Creative problem solving in scientific research and development, with proven track-record of translating R&D problem solving into impactful pipeline deliveries.* External scientific engagement that may include a combination of publications, industry white paper contributions, presentations at scientific meetings.* Excellent scientific writing and verbal communication skills. **Preferred Experience and Skills:*** Experience working in the bio-pharmaceutical industry as Postdoc or intern is preferred. EligibleforERP**Required Skills:**Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Method Development, Assay Development, Biopharmaceuticals, Chemical Synthesis, Chemistry, Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Method Development, Purification Methods, Small Molecules, Synthetic Chemistry, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Technical Writing, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)**Preferred Skills:**Current Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE**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. Please click here 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:EEOC Know Your RightsEEOC GINA SupplementWe 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 - New Jersey - Rahway Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below. The salary range for the primary location of this role is:$117,000.00 - $184,200.00 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**VISA Sponsorship:**Yes**Travel Requirements:**No Travel Required**Flexible Work Arrangements:**Not Applicable**Shift:**1st - Day**Valid Driving License:**No**Hazardous Material(s):**n/a**Job Posting End Date:**11/13/2026**\\*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.**