Principal Scientist, Materials and Biophysical Characterization (Vaccines) | Alabaster, AL

impacting development of our company's increasingly complex vaccine biotherapeutics. The Principal Scientist reports to the Director and will have technical supervision of a small team (2-5 people) while driving innovative analytical science to enable deep understanding of active ingredients, formulations and related manufacturing processes.

Our MBC team concentrates on advancing and evolving capabilities within an expansive biophysical and material characterization toolbox to empower us to solve unexpected challenges during development of novel vaccines and biotherapeutics. Our efforts enable programs across the clinical development continuum to impact the health and wellness of patients

worldwide. The key responsibilities of this role will include but are not limited to: Partnering with other technical supervisors, scientific leaders and the Director to identify, elucidate and drive scientific strategies, new technology backssments and operational/technical advancement efforts.

Mentoring of a small team of scientists for independent design and execution of biophysical backssments across our company's expansive vaccine development portfolio including nanoparticles, live virus, conjugate, RNA, subunit, etc. vaccine and vaccine/adjuvant systems. Facilitates teamwork, maintains productive communication with staff & colleagues and coordinates execution of plans with key team

& stakeholders including necessary follow-up/tracking. Timely communication and delivery of fundamental and advanced analytical methods, data, and product knowledge needed to meet project milestones and associated regulatory requirements.

Execution and oversight of critical analytical characterization data for regulatory filings including composing/review of high-quality CMC sections for IND/CTA/NTAs. Exemplify scientific excellence internally and externally. Demonstrate expertise in our subject matter area educating our collaborators and developing peer relationships on high-performing project teams. The successful candidate must be initiative-taking, demonstrate strong partnership and mentorship skills, have excellent written and oral communication abilities, and flexibility to rapidly adapt to change.

Collaboration and learning in a dynamic, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment coupled with a desire to conduct research and influence the field are essential attributes. The ideal candidate should be interested not only in these aspects, but also in engaging opportunistically to further develop as a leader within our team and more broadly within the AR&D organization. As a member of our team, you will be joining scientific problem solvers who are dedicated to creating the life-changing medicines of tomorrow.

Education Minimum Requirements (standard for each level) Ph. D. in Biochemistry, Materials Science, Pharmaceutics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or a related field with 6+ years post-degree relevant experience, or M. S. with 10+ years/B. S. with 12+ years of relevant industry experience. Required Experience and Skills An effective collaborator with the ability to work both independently and in cross-functional teams to deliver on ambitious goals. Understanding of technical problem solving, innovative research experience and demonstrated ability to communicate scientific concepts through publications, patents, presentations, or other professional/scientific achievements.

Desire and ability to learn new concepts outside of core expertise and training. Excellent scientific communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and effective interpersonal skills. Ability to experimentally execute and couple learnings from orthogonal biophysical analyses elucidating relationships in bulk and/or surface properties. Durable foundation in classical biophysical analytical techniques including particle sizing, light scattering, circular dichroism (CD), florescence, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), etc.

High compliance standard with experience in good documentation practices, OSHA safety standards, SOP-observance capabilities, & laboratory inspection/internal audit readiness. Preferred Experience and Skills While not required, experience in one or more of the following areas is beneficial. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. Experience leading a team for a common goal. Prior expertise in gaining deep scientific understanding of local microenvironments and particle properties of adjuvants, antigens or combinations thereof.

Digital/Machine Learning, Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) and/or cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) including data capture and interpretation for biologics, materials or vaccines. Microscopy and spectroscopic techniques including scanning electron microscopy x-ray spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) coupled with informatics data analysis. Regularly exchanges ideas and information to develop effective plans and strategies with customer-oriented data and documentation output. 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.

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. Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, interaction, interactionual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

For more information about personal rights under the U. S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination 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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts U. S. Hybrid Work Model Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U. S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely.

Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as " remote" 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. Employee Status: Regular Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s): Requisition ID: R271907PDN-9ad5c244-418c-445f-9d84-fe5221672b3a