Associate Scientist, Postdoctoral Fellow - Next Generation Drug Conjugates

Job Description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Next Generation Drug Conjugates

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our Discovery Chemistry department at our company's Research Laboratories in South San Francisco. The role offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment alongside the Quantitative Biosciences (Pharmacology) department. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will independently drive projects that address fundamental hypotheses in targeted therapies for oncology to enhance our mechanistic understanding and shape strategies to improve therapeutic efficacy. These projects will require design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of chemical probes using high content imaging and other cellular assays to study intracellular trafficking.

Our Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be best-in-industry for industrial postdoctoral researchers, designed to provide an academic research focus in a commercial environment. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, our postdoctoral researchers are positioned to excel at an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery. If you are a highly motivated individual with a strong desire to pursue cutting-edge research at the interface of chemistry and biology, we invite you to consider joining our team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop hypothesis-driven and comprehensive study plans to drive project proposals towards learnings applicable to drug discovery programs.

• Design, synthesize, and characterize small molecule and peptide-based tool molecules, and independently troubleshoot synthetic challenges as required.

• Design and execute cellular assays to characterize intracellular trafficking and pharmacology of tool molecules using high content imaging and other experimental methodologies.

• Analyze and interpret study results to inform on subsequent design of iterative tool molecules and experiments.

• Properly document all experimental designs, protocols, and findings. Maintain compliance with all laboratory trainings and safety requirements.

• Independently guide and evolve research direction based on new learnings.

• Stay up to date with new literature pertinent to the project proposal and related ideas.

• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, and present at scientific conferences and to internal teams.

Required Qualifications

• PhD completed within 6 months of hire in Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related field; or hold a Ph.D. degree with less than 2 years of prior postdoctoral experience.

• Proven ability to complete research projects, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

• Demonstrated expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, including multi-step synthesis, purification, and characterization.

• Proficiency with standard chromatographic methods and analytical techniques such as NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and HPLC.

• Strong knowledge of reaction mechanisms, synthetic methodology, and retrosynthetic analysis.

• Proficiency with mammalian cell culture and relevant cell biology techniques and assay technologies.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively to drive research initiatives and solve complex scientific/technical problems, with excellent organization and communication skills.

• Rigorous and innovative experimentalist with enthusiasm for learning new techniques and a strong growth mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with live cell and/or high-content imaging methods and automated image analysis software tools.

• Hands-on experience with peptide synthesis, analysis, characterization, and related techniques.

postdoctoralopportunities

Under New York City, Colorado State, 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:

$75,000.00-$86,000.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. For Washington State Jobs, a summary of benefits is listed here.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Chemistry, Cell Cultures, Cell Culture Techniques, Chemical Biology, Computational Biology, Data Analysis, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), High Content Imaging, Immunoassays, In Vivo Mouse Models, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Mammalian Cell, Mammalian Cell Culture, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Mathematical Biology, Molecular Biology, Organic Synthesis, Parasitology, Peptide Synthesis, Primary Cell Culture, Programming Languages, Project Reviews {+ 4 more}

Preferred Skills:

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.

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.

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, Monday - 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”.

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.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/27/2025

• 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.
  

Requisition ID:R372245