Sr. Scientist, Assay Development - Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery

MSD; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD’s Boston-based Neuroscience Biomarker Discovery team seeks a Senior Scientist to design, execute, and optimize biomarker strategies from preclinical to early clinical studies. You will lead assay development, automate workflows, and partner with data scientists to produce robust datasets for Go/No-Go decisions.

The role focuses on high-plex immunoassays (e.g., Olink) and NGS-based proteomics in Alzheimer’s, PD, and pain programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD with hands-on biomarker assay development in human samples.
• Experience with ultra-sensitive multiplexed immunoassays (e.g., O-link) and NGS workflows.
• Regulatory knowledge (FDA/ICH) for biomarker qualification and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize high-dimensional biomarker assays for human samples.
• Lead ultra-sensitive immunoassay development and high-plex NGS-based platforms.
• Collaborate with data scientists to ensure automated workflows yield high-fidelity data.
• Summarize data and status of results for governance and pipeline decisions.
• Lead automation initiatives for high-throughput biomarker discovery.

Skills

Biomarker Development

Biomarker Assay Development

NGS workflows

Automation

Flow Cytometry

Scientific Writing

Communication Skills

Education

Master’s or PhD in Molecular Biology/Neuroscience/Immunology

Tools

Olink Platform

Liquid Handling Robots

Automation Tools

Job description

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

Location: Boston, MA (On-Site)

Our Company’s Neuroscience Therapeutic area is 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.

Required Skills

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

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

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.

Job Posting End Date

09/21/2026

Salary

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

• The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.
• 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.

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.