Sr. Scientist, Assay Development - Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery

Merck & Co.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co. in Boston, MA is seeking a Senior Scientist to design, develop, and automate high-throughput biomarker assays.

You will generate robust datasets from human and preclinical samples to support pipeline governance and patient stratification in Neurodegeneration and Pain programs. You will lead ultra-sensitive immunoassay development (e.g., O-link) and explore high-plex NGS-based proteomics, collaborating with data scientists to ensure data quality and integration for multi-omics

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD with hands-on industry experience in relevant fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in biomarker assay development in large human cohorts.
• Experience with ultra-sensitive multiplexed immunoassays (e.g., O-link) and NGS workflows.
• Proven ability to implement lab automation tools for high-throughput data generation.
• Excellent oral and written communication; strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience with FDA/ICH regulatory guidelines for biomarker qualification.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and deliver biomarker datasets from human and preclinical samples.
• Lead design and qualification of biomarker methods, including ultra-sensitive immunoassays.
• Collaborate with data scientists to ensure automated workflows yield high-fidelity data.
• Work on-site in the lab and summarize data for internal/external partners.
• Contribute to data packages enabling governance decisions for pipelines.
• Lead adoption of high-throughput methodologies and automation.

Skills

biomarker assay development

NGS workflows

laboratory automation tools

communication skills

clinical assay validation

Education

Master's degree in molecular biology or related STEM with 6+ years of experience

PhD in molecular biology/biochemistry/neuroscience/immunology/neurology or related STEM field

Tools

O-link immunoassays

robotic liquid handling

flow cytometry

single-cell sequencing

Job description

Job Title: Senior Scientist- Assay Development in Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery

Location: Boston, MA (On-Site)

Our Company's Neuroscience Therapeutic areais seeking a Senior Scientist (R3) to join our Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery Team. The Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery group at our company's Research Labs (Boston) is accountable for designing and executing biomarker strategies across our company's Neuroscience portfolio, spanning from early preclinical discovery to early-stage clinical trials.The group's mission is to bridge target disease biology, advanced mechanistic modeling, and computational analysis to formulate novel biomarker panels. Ultimately, this group generates the data packages and clinical biomarker strategies required to drive crucial pipeline Go/No-Go governance decisions and patient stratification for Neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) and Pain programs.

Reporting to the Neuroscience Biomarker discovery lead at our company, this individual will play a pivotal role in assay development and generating data in support of biomarker strategies from preclinical models to human clinical and observational studies for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Pain.

This is a lab-based position located in Boston. You will lead the design, development, optimization, and automation of complex, high-dimensional assays to process human biofluids and tissues, generating the robust datasets required for pipeline Go/No-Go decisions and patient stratification.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Plan, design, execute and deliver high-quality biomarker datasets from observational human and preclinical samples in support of pipeline programs in Neuroscience at our company.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and lead the design, development, and qualification of fit-for-purpose biomarker methods. This includes driving our workhorse ultra-sensitive immunoassays while spearheading the adoption of high-plex NGS-based proteomic platforms (e.g., Olink).
• Partner closely with data scientists within and outside the team to ensure automated workflows yield high-fidelity data suitable for mixed-effects modeling and multi-omics integration. Collaborate with Mechanistic Validation scientists to support in vitro, in vivo readouts.
• Work on-site in the lab and summarize data and status of results with internal and external partners.
• Participate and contribute to the generation of data packages that enable key governance decisions for pipeline programs.
• Take the lead in identifying, piloting, and automating novel high-throughput methodologies for biomarker discovery (e.g., implementing robotic liquid handling, flow-cytometry based immune-cell profiling using single cell sequencing in human and mouse samples, or extracellular vesicles).

Required Qualifications:

• Master's in molecular biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Immunology, Neurology, or related STEM fields with minimum 6 years of relevant industry experience OR PhD in molecular biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Immunology, Neurology, or related STEM fields with hands-on relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in biomarker assay development and implementation in large scale human cohorts and samples from in vivo/in vitro studies.
• Extensive, hands-on expertise in developing de novo ultra-sensitive, multiplexed immunoassays (e.g. O-link), coupled with direct practical experience in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows.
• Proven hands-on expertise in programming and implementing laboratory automation tools and liquid handlers to scale high-throughput immunoassay and/or NGS-based datasets generation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and thrive in a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment. -
• Demonstrated experience with clinical assay validation parameters (accuracy, precision, reproducibility) and regulatory guidelines (FDA/ICH) for biomarker qualification.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in the Neuroscience therapeutic area, particularly in Neurodegeneration (eg. AD or PD).
• Prior expertise in implementing end-to-end NGS based workflows using the Illumina platform.
• Experience in one or more of the following techniques (flow cytometry panel design and data analysis, analysis of extracellular vesicles, NGS workflows, single-cell RNA sequencing).
• Adept at or strong willingness to leverage AI tools for conducting data quality controls and sound statistical analysis of large-scale datasets.

Assay Development, Bioassay Development, Biomarker Development, Biomarker Discovery, Biomarker Identification, Biomarkers, Disease Models, Drug Discovery Research, Flow Cytometry, High-Throughput Screening, Immunoassays, In Vitro Assays, In Vivo Models, Molecular Biology Techniques, Neurodegeneration, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Omics, Preclinical Research, Protein Purifications, RNA-Seq, Scientific Writing

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:

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 salary range for this role is
$106,200.00 - $167,200.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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 .

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

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

BSL2, OEB4, Bloodborne pathogens

Job Posting End Date:

09/21/2026

*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:

R417751