Associate Principal Scientist, Biomarker Discovery, Multiomics

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced experimental and computational biologist with a strong background impacting Immunology Drug Discovery leveraging advanced multimodal and multi-omics technologies to join the Spatial and Single Cell Multiomics (SSM) Team within the Department of Data, AI & Genome Sciences (DAGS) at our Research Laboratories in Cambridge, MA. Our team leverages cutting-edge Spatial Multiomics (CosMx WTx, Xenium, COMET mIF, Digital Pathology, MSI) and multi-omics single cell approaches (REAP-seq/CITE-seq, CROP-seq/Perturb-Seq, Immune profiling, Multiome ATAC-seq) to drive Biomarker Discovery and innovation across the drug development pipeline, from pre-clinical to clinical stages. SSM collaborates closely with therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Immunology, Neuroscience, and Cardiometabolic Disease as functional areas including Data, AI & Genome Sciences, Data Science & Scientific Informatics, Quantitative Bioscience, and ChemBio within the Discovery, Preclinical and Translational Medicine (DPTM) organization.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute hands-on laboratory experiments for large-scale studies across single cell and spatial multiomics assays, including single cell RNA-seq, REAP-seq/CITE-seq, CROP-seq/Perturb-seq, immune profiling, Multiome ATAC-seq, and spatial multiomics platforms such as CosMx, Xenium, COMET mIF, and Digital Pathology.

• Support and develop perturbation, cell-culture, and tissue-based profiling studies to enable mechanistic studies and translationally relevant biological investigations.

• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, automation engineers, computational scientists, data analysts, AIML data scientists, and therapeutic area subject matter experts to address biological questions, develop experimental strategies, and execute project plans.

• Independently drive projects from study design through execution, data interpretation, troubleshooting, and communication of results to stakeholders and senior leadership.

• Evaluate, implement, and scale emerging single cell and spatial technologies, computational approaches, and biological models for use in early discovery and translational research.

• Drive scientific impacts across technical workstreams, helping to close multiple experimental and computational capability gaps on the team.

• Work in a matrixed environment aligned by therapeutic area, with primary support for Immunology and Oncology programs, and collaboration across other DAGS and DPTM efforts as needed.

• Clearly communicate to executive leadership including goals, assay procedures, experimental findings, and biological insights through presentations, written summaries, and cross-functional discussions.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology,

  bioengineering, cell biology, genetics/genomics, computational biology, biotechnology, or related STEM disciplines with 3-5+ years of industry experience.

Required Skills and Experiences:

• Demonstrated application of single cell and/or spatial multiomics to Immunology.

• Extensive hands-on expertise in molecular biology assays and high-throughput genomic technologies, particularly single cell RNA-seq, REAP-seq/CITE-seq, CROP-seq/Perturb-seq, and/or spatial transcriptomics.

• Demonstrated ability to work across both single-cell and spatial workflows, with enough breadth to contribute outside a narrow technical specialty.

• Experience with perturbation, cell and/or tissue based systems, and the ability to connect assay design to biological and translational questions.

• Proven experience with advanced profiling technologies such as 10x Genomics scRNAseq/STx, Bruker STx/mIF/MSI, Parse scRNAseq or related platforms, including demonstrated execution of these assays at scale.

• Proficiency in using automation tools for high throughput sample processing and data execution, such as Biomek, Hamilton, Leica Bond Rx, or equivalent systems.

• Experience using Linux/Unix OS and high-performance compute (HPC) environments. Expertise in R and/or Python.

• Demonstrated experience in computational analysis and biological interpretation of single cell RNA-seq, Spatial Tx, mIF and/or related multimodal datasets.

• Experience partnering with cross-functional groups including experimental biologists, data scientists, TA biologists and IT Engineering

• Strong understanding of experimental design, scientific rigor, troubleshooting, and documentation, with the ability to independently lead studies.

• Exceptional problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and analytical expertise.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex technical information to a wide range of audiences and excel working as “One Team” across departments and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience operating effectively in a matrixed team structure with alignment to therapeutic area priorities and collaboration across technical leads.

• Broad scientific versatility and learning agility, with the ability to expand into adjacent workflows or biological domains as project needs evolve.

• A strong publication history in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

• If you are passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive scientific discovery and have the skills and experience outlined above, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join our team at our Research Laboratories.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Assay, Assay Development, Cell-Based Assays, Cell Biology, Genomics, High-Throughput Screening, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Omics, Omics Technologies, RNA-Seq, Single Cell Analysis, Transcriptomics

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees applyHERE

Current Contingent Workers applyHERE

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. Pleaseclick hereif you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit 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. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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

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The salary range for this role is

$144,800.00 - $227,900.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

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 athttps://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role throughhttps://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

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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.

Employee Status:

Regular

Re location:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

BSL2, human biospecimens

Job Posting End Date:

06/8/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the dayBEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the dayBEFOREthe job posting end date.