Senior Scientist, Synthetic Purification (On-site)

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Job summary

MSD in Rahway, NJ, seeks a Senior Scientist in the multiscale separations team to advance purification methods for small molecules, peptides, and conjugates. You will lead chromatographic isolation from analytical to prep scale and collaborate across chemistry and analytics to enable pipeline advancement.

The role emphasizes MS‑directed purification, orthogonal detection, and high-quality scientific communication, with opportunities to publish and present findings.

Qualifications

• Experience in analytical chromatography from micro to prep scales.
• MS-directed purification experience.
• Strong scientific writing and verbal communication skills.
• Publications or conference presentations in relevant fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead chromatographic isolation of APIs and impurities from analytical to prep scale.
• Develop and optimize purification workflows for multiple modalities.
• Collaborate with process chemists and analytics to enable scalable isolation.
• Communicate findings clearly through reports and presentations.

Skills

Chromatography

Mass spectrometry

Method development

Purification workflows

Chiral isolation

MS‑directed purification

Communication skills

Publications

Education

PhD in Chemistry or related field

MS with 5+ years biopharma experience

Tools

PDA

MALS

Charged aerosol detection

Mass spectrometry instruments

Job description

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:

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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement. 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.

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.

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

Additional Closing Remarks

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.