Job Description
Boston Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics – Principal Scientist
The Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics (PDMB) group is seeking a dynamic, strategic thinking and collaborative Principal Scientist (director-level equivalent) to contribute to our company’s drug discovery and early clinical development efforts. This position will be based at our research labs in Boston, MA. The ideal candidate will lead drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) efforts across multiple modalities (small molecules, peptides, protein therapeutics) as a project-team representative, regularly interacting with multi-disciplinary discovery teams and partners from other functions within our Research & Development Division. Therapeutic area support with focus on our immunology and oncology portfolios, with the potential to contribute to cardiovascular/metabolic, neuroscience and infectious disease efforts as well. The successful candidate will be expected to represent PDMB on cross-functional teams through strategic design of discovery testing funnels, generation and interpretation of PK and PK/PD data sets and through effective communication at both internal meetings and external conferences.
In this exciting position, your primary roles will include:
- Project-team representative and subject matter expert on multiple modality DMPK activities within the oncology and immunology therapeutic areas
- Characterization and optimization of the in vitro and in vivo ADME and pharmacokinetic properties of small molecules and peptide therapeutics
- Design, implementation and analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies to understand the impact of drug disposition on disease biology, pharmacological response (PK/PD) and safety
- Manage a team of lab-based PDMB scientists responsible for developing and executing ligand binding assays and mass spectrometry-based bioanalytical strategies
- Contribute to global DMPK strategy and implementation of cutting-edge ADME science through close collaboration with Discovery and Early Development project teams in Boston (MA), South San Francisco (CA) and West Point (PA) focusing on building highly efficient strategies to identify and optimize drug candidates
Education Minimum Requirement
- Ph.D (with 6+ years relevant experience) or Master’s (minimum of 10 years relevant experience) degree in biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering or related field
- Relevant experience to include a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar industrial/academic setting
Required Experience and Skills
- Demonstrated experience leading small molecule, peptide and/or protein therapeutic DMPK discovery efforts as an independent project-team representative within a highly collaborative environment
- Ability to design, optimize and interpret DMPK-related optimization strategies (discovery testing funnels) as part of a broader research operating plan
- Technical ability to analyze, interpret and provide context around data describing the ADME, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of small molecules, peptides and/or protein therapeutics, including use of software such as Phoenix WinNonlin
- Experience contributing to development and execution of translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/efficacy relationships and other useful quantitative pharmacology applications in a discovery setting
- Proven management experience, including mentorship and talent development of multiple direct reports
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, problem solving and collaborative qualities to deliver high quality results in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Experience and Skills
- Hands-on experience performing translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/efficacy and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) software modeling (e.g., Phoenix WinNonlin, Berkeley Madonna, MATLAB).
- Proven track record supporting immunology or oncology-based programs with experience spanning from early discovery through IND-enabling efforts
- Familiarity with structure-activity relationships aimed at improving pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of small molecules or peptides
- Experience working within a research-driven pharmaceutical company
#EligibleforERP
Required Skills:
ADME, Bioanalytical Method Development, Cross-Functional Teamwork, DMPK, Drug Metabolism, Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, PKPD Modeling, Small Molecules, Therapeutic Proteins, Translational Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PKPD)
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
The salary range for this role is
$176,200.00 - $277,300.00
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 at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can 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.
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:
10/16/2026
*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.
