Associate Principal Scientist – Virology
| Company | Merck |
|---|---|
| Location | North Wales, PA, USA |
| Salary | $Not Provided – $Not Provided |
| Type | Full-Time |
| Degrees | Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD |
| Experience Level | Senior, Expert or higher |
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in biology, chemistry, or related field with eight (8) years’ experience in virology or a related field in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or academic setting; OR
- Master of Science in biology, chemistry, or related field with six (6) years’ experience in virology or a related field in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or academic setting; OR
- Ph.D. in biology, chemistry, or related field with three (3) years’ experience in virology or a related field in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or academic setting
- In-depth knowledge of virus-cell interactions.
- Familiarity with various viral pathogens and their mechanisms of action.
- Proficiency in cell culture techniques, particularly with vaccine cell lines.
- Ability to design robust experimental protocols and analyze complex data sets.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive projects to completion.
- Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with various stakeholders, including technical operations, manufacturing, and research teams.
- Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
- Proficiency in presenting study designs, results, and recommendations to all levels of the organization.
- Capacity to think creatively and propose novel approaches to enhance vaccine production processes.
- Willingness to engage in hands-on laboratory activities and lead by example.
Responsibilities
- Subject matter expert (SME) for virus-cell interactions
- Manages one or more vaccine cell culture based projects and prioritizes resources to align with business objectives
- Designs and leads execution of experimental protocols using lab facilities and/or production equipment at full scale. Communicating study designs and data driven results to all levels within and across organizations and incorporating stakeholder feedback.
- Hands-on leadership and participation in laboratory activities
- Examines an issue from diverse perspectives (safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process, and people) in order to best understand and resolve the root cause.
- Authors and approves technical documentation to support manufacturing investigations and process enhancements.
- Collaborates and engages with counterparts within technical operations, site manufacturing, commercialization, our Research Division, and other process support labs within our global network.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong foundation in biochemical processes related to vaccine formulation and stability.
- Knowledge of molecular genetics techniques for analyzing viral genomes.
- Proficiency in statistical analysis and interpretation of experimental results.
- Ability to examine issues from multiple perspectives (safety, compliance, automation, etc.) to identify root causes and implement solutions.
- Track record of publications.