Translational Biomarkers Strategy Lead

Merck & Co.

South San Francisco (CA)

Hybrid

USD 191,000 - 300,000

Full time

4 days ago

Be an early applicant

Application generator

Get a reply from this employer — a resume and cover letter tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

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

The role focuses on integrating biology, pharmacodynamics, patient heterogeneity, and precision medicine to inform dose, endpoints, and go/no-go decisions. Hybrid work arrangement with global collaboration.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

Develop and lead integrated biomarker strategies across CVM and ID/Vaccines programs in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Translate disease biology and mechanism into translational hypotheses and fit-for-purpose biomarker approaches.
Define how biomarkers inform development questions including proof of biology, target engagement, dose selection, and patient stratification.
Ensure biomarker strategies are focused, scalable, and linked to development questions and actions.
Serve as biomarker representative on program teams and provide strategic input for decisions.
Collaborate with Discovery, Clinical Development, Quantitative Sciences, Regulatory, Data Science, and Clinical Operations to build translational strategies.
Lead interpretation of biomarker and clinical data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Identify opportunities to understand disease heterogeneity and predictors of response or non-response.
For infectious diseases, develop strategies addressing host/pathogen biology, immune response, and correlates of protection.
For CV/metabolic programs, develop strategies addressing target engagement, pathway modulation, and clinical outcomes.
Evaluate emerging biomarker technologies and analytical approaches for meaningful questions.
Communicate biomarker strategies, results, risks, and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders.
Provide scientific guidance and mentorship to biomarker scientists and foster a collaborative organization.
Support publications, scientific presentations, external collaborations, and interactions with external experts.