Senior Translational Biomarkers Scientist Clinical Programs

Merck; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement

Paid holidays

Vacation

Sick days

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Principal Scientist to provide biomarker leadership across Cardiovascular & Metabolic and Infectious Diseases/Vaccines programs. You will design, execute, and communicate translational biomarker strategies spanning early to late clinical development.

The role emphasizes decision-centric biomarker plans that integrate biology, pharmacodynamics, patient heterogeneity, dosing, and precision medicine to inform program decisions with high value evidence.

Qualifications

• Significant experience developing translational or clinical biomarker strategies in drug or vaccine development.
• Expertise in cardiovascular, metabolic, infectious diseases, vaccines, immunology, or related fields.
• Ability to translate hypotheses into actions informing clinical development decisions.
• Strong understanding of mechanism of action, disease biology, pharmacology, and biomarkers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead integrated biomarker strategies across CVM and ID/Vaccines programs, partnering with cross-functional teams.
• Translate disease biology and therapeutic mechanisms into testable translational hypotheses and biomarker approaches.
• Define how biomarkers inform development questions such as proof of biology, target engagement, and patient stratification.
• Ensure biomarker strategies are focused, scalable, and linked to actionable development decisions.
• Serve as biomarker representative on program teams and guide decision-making.
• Collaborate with Discovery, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Data Science, and others to create translational strategies.
• Interpret biomarker and clinical data and translate findings into clear recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to understand heterogeneity, response, resistance, and drivers of outcomes.

Skills

Biomarkers

Cardiovascular Diseases

Clinical Development

Clinical Research

Clinical Study Design

Data Translation

Ethical Compliance

Ethical Standards

Immuno-Oncology

Mechanism of Action

Patient Care

Personalized Medicine

Pharmacodynamics

Scientific Presentations

Scientific Writing

Strategic Thinking

Translational Medicine

Education

PhD/MD or equivalent

Job description

Merck is seeking a Principal Scientist to provide biomarker leadership across Cardiovascular & Metabolic and Infectious Diseases/Vaccines programs. You will design, execute, and communicate translational biomarker strategies spanning early to late clinical development.

The role emphasizes decision-centric biomarker plans that integrate biology, pharmacodynamics, patient heterogeneity, dosing, and precision medicine to inform program decisions with high value evidence.