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 isolate a compound that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.

Position Title

Senior Scientist, Computational Chemistry – Peptide Specialist

Position Description

Our company is seeking a creative, self-motivated computational chemist with exceptional interpersonal and problem-solving skills to join the Modeling group in Kenilworth, NJ, part of the Computational and Structural Chemistry (CSC) department. We are looking to expand our capability in peptide computational chemistry to support our future peptide strategy.

CSC is a team of approximately 110 scientists, who employ state of the art capabilities in predictive science, macromolecular structure, biophysics, mass spectrometry, and protein production to drive drug design.  We are an integral arm of both discovery and process chemistry, and we collaborate seamlessly with teams across the globe to invent better molecules faster.  With an unbiased approach to drug modalities, in-house access to the newest screening techniques, and world-class medicinal chemistry, we have a wealth of opportunities to impact our pipeline and ultimately save and improve patient lives. 

The successful candidate will join multidisciplinary, highly collaborative discovery teams both locally and across the global network to invent novel medicines by applying advanced computational techniques and developing innovative computational methods.

Key responsibilities will include:

1) Design and optimization of drug candidates using advanced computational techniques as a member of discovery teams through:  

• design of peptides utilizing existing company tools and techniques

• informative data analysis and visualization of SAR and mRNA-display screening data

• protein construct design

• peptide library design

• development of innovative computational methods for peptide modeling

• application of machine learning

• influencing teams by effectively communicating non-obvious insights from computational approaches to drive projects forward

2) Contributing to the overall wellbeing of the department by sharing knowledge, workflows, and being invested in the success of your peers.

Our organization is inspired by invention and founded on a culture of respect and collaboration. We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission. By joining us, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaboration with talented and dedicated colleagues while contributing to developing medicines for human health.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• PhD (or PhD to be awarded before Spring 2023, or master’s degree with minimum of 4 years of experience in drug discovery industry) in biophysics, biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, or equivalent, with a computational emphasis

Required Experience and Skills:

• A desire to learn and to innovate

• Specific experience with peptide design using conformational analysis, amino acid monomers, in silico mutation, property prediction or similar

• Evidence of creative application of computational approaches to problems of pharmaceutical interest

• Ability to communicate, collaborate and deliver results as a member of multi-disciplinary teams

• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Strong track record of recent publications and/or presentations

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with Linux

• Proficiency with modeling software packages (e.g. Schrodinger, MOE, Rosetta)

• Proficiency in general molecular modeling techniques (docking, molecular simulation, homology modeling, quantum mechanics, ligand- and structure-based design)

• Skilled in scientific programming (e.g. Python, Pipeline Pilot) and data analytics (e.g. Spotfire, Pandas, Jupyter)

• Experience with QSAR, machine learning, deep learning.

#CSCjobs

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for …

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Under New York City, Washington State and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected salary range:

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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. 

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Requisition ID:R200028