Merck
Principal Scientist, Immunology Biomarker Lead, Translational Medicine
Merck, Rahway, New Jersey, us, 07065
Job Description
Translational Biomarkers (TB) develops and validates clinical biomarkers to support decision making across the development lifecycle for all therapeutic areas at our Company's Research laboratories. We are seeking a highly-motivated Principal Scientist to serve as an Immunology Biomarker Lead who will partner across functions to design and deliver biomarker strategies that connect drug mechanism, patient biology, and clinical endpoints across immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases.
The role requires a scientist who leads through scientific expertise, decision-focused logic, and collaboration, building alignment among teams on biomarker hypotheses, plans, and readouts tied to development decisions in a fast-moving matrixed environment.
Responsibilities
Shape and align biomarker strategies for early and late-stage clinical programs, emphasizing clear hypotheses, fit-for-purpose readouts, and decision-linked plans.
Lead biomarker sub-teams within cross-functional development program teams and provide functional area point of view in governance interactions.
Build alignment across stakeholders with diverse technical backgrounds, priorities, and perspectives to converge on pragmatic biomarker choices and tradeoffs as needed.
Partner with subject matter experts to translate disease biology and drug mechanism into clinical stage biomarker plans that address key program questions and integrate diverse technical perspectives.
Facilitate fit-for-purpose selection of innovative biomarker technologies and methodologies (e.g., immune profiling, omics, digital pathology) grounded in disease pathophysiology and aligned with therapeutic mechanism of action.
Contribute to analysis planning and interpretation to ensure biomarker conclusions are scientifically rigorous, clinically meaningful, and clearly communicated, both internally and externally.
Qualifications Education Minimum Requirement
PhD (or MD/PhD) in a life sciences discipline (Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Pathology, Cell Biology, Translational Medicine, Pharmacology, Genetics/Genomics, Bioengineering, or STEM related field).
MS or BS considered with equivalent experience.
Required Experience and Skills
PhD (or MD/PhD) 7+ years OR MS and 10+ years OR BS and 12+ years of experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry, specifically in translational or biomarker sciences.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in highly matrixed environments driving outcomes without formal authority through scientific credibility, relationship-building, and strategic stakeholder engagement.
Strong knowledge of immune-mediated and inflammatory disease biology and clinical development, spanning at least one of the following areas: gastrointestinal/mucosal inflammation, rheumatology, dermatology.
Demonstrated experience applying biomarkers to assess drug activity and patient response to inform therapeutic decision making.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize ambiguity into clear options and recommendations as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with fluid- and tissue-linked biomarker readouts and connecting them to clinical endpoints.
Working knowledge of biomarker platforms and multi-modal data integration (e.g., immunoassays, flow/immune profiling, NGS, omics) with effective partnership across data sciences, bioinformatics, and biostatistics.
Experience advancing precision medicine concepts and diagnostic considerations into clinical biomarker plans is advantageous.
External scientific engagement, including KOL collaborations, publications, presentations, and/or scientific consortia participation.
Additional Information Salary range for this role is:
$172,700.00 - $271,900.00
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 .
Apply for this role through
https://jobs.merck.com/us/en
(or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
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.
Current Employees apply
HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply
HERE
Employee Status: Regular
Relocation: Domestic
VISA Sponsorship: Yes
Travel Requirements: 10%
Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Shift: Not Indicated
Valid Driving License: No
Hazardous Material(s): N/a
Job Posting End Date: 01/16/2026
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.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, providing equal opportunities for all applicants and prohibiting 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.
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The role requires a scientist who leads through scientific expertise, decision-focused logic, and collaboration, building alignment among teams on biomarker hypotheses, plans, and readouts tied to development decisions in a fast-moving matrixed environment.
Responsibilities
Shape and align biomarker strategies for early and late-stage clinical programs, emphasizing clear hypotheses, fit-for-purpose readouts, and decision-linked plans.
Lead biomarker sub-teams within cross-functional development program teams and provide functional area point of view in governance interactions.
Build alignment across stakeholders with diverse technical backgrounds, priorities, and perspectives to converge on pragmatic biomarker choices and tradeoffs as needed.
Partner with subject matter experts to translate disease biology and drug mechanism into clinical stage biomarker plans that address key program questions and integrate diverse technical perspectives.
Facilitate fit-for-purpose selection of innovative biomarker technologies and methodologies (e.g., immune profiling, omics, digital pathology) grounded in disease pathophysiology and aligned with therapeutic mechanism of action.
Contribute to analysis planning and interpretation to ensure biomarker conclusions are scientifically rigorous, clinically meaningful, and clearly communicated, both internally and externally.
Qualifications Education Minimum Requirement
PhD (or MD/PhD) in a life sciences discipline (Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Pathology, Cell Biology, Translational Medicine, Pharmacology, Genetics/Genomics, Bioengineering, or STEM related field).
MS or BS considered with equivalent experience.
Required Experience and Skills
PhD (or MD/PhD) 7+ years OR MS and 10+ years OR BS and 12+ years of experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry, specifically in translational or biomarker sciences.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in highly matrixed environments driving outcomes without formal authority through scientific credibility, relationship-building, and strategic stakeholder engagement.
Strong knowledge of immune-mediated and inflammatory disease biology and clinical development, spanning at least one of the following areas: gastrointestinal/mucosal inflammation, rheumatology, dermatology.
Demonstrated experience applying biomarkers to assess drug activity and patient response to inform therapeutic decision making.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize ambiguity into clear options and recommendations as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with fluid- and tissue-linked biomarker readouts and connecting them to clinical endpoints.
Working knowledge of biomarker platforms and multi-modal data integration (e.g., immunoassays, flow/immune profiling, NGS, omics) with effective partnership across data sciences, bioinformatics, and biostatistics.
Experience advancing precision medicine concepts and diagnostic considerations into clinical biomarker plans is advantageous.
External scientific engagement, including KOL collaborations, publications, presentations, and/or scientific consortia participation.
Additional Information Salary range for this role is:
$172,700.00 - $271,900.00
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 .
Apply for this role through
https://jobs.merck.com/us/en
(or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
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.
Current Employees apply
HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply
HERE
Employee Status: Regular
Relocation: Domestic
VISA Sponsorship: Yes
Travel Requirements: 10%
Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Shift: Not Indicated
Valid Driving License: No
Hazardous Material(s): N/a
Job Posting End Date: 01/16/2026
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.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, providing equal opportunities for all applicants and prohibiting 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr