Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Scientist to join our collaborative, dynamic, and inclusive Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) team in West Point, PA. This role is ideal for an industry-experienced professional with a strong foundation in in vivo sciences and a passion for leveraging digital tools to optimize laboratory workflows.

As a Scientist, you will play an integral role in executing in vivo research studies in both rodents and non-rodents and supporting critical discovery and basic science programs. Beyond traditional hands-on veterinary and colony support, you will act as a key champion for data stewardship, process optimization, and digital transformation within the department. This position offers a vibrant learning environment with significant opportunities to hone your technical skills, contribute to cutting-edge therapeutic programs, and lead operational improvements.

Responsibilities:

1. In-Vivo Study Execution & Veterinary Support

•    Technical Execution: Perform hands-on technical aspects of discovery and basic science animal studies with minimal supervision. To include administering test articles via various routes, conducting blood sampling, and performing tissue collections.

•    Surgical & Anesthetic Care: Administer injectable and inhalation anesthetic agents under veterinary guidance. Assist in and conduct pre-surgical preparations, aseptic surgical procedures, and intensive perioperative care.

•    Clinical Care: Carry out prescribed medical treatment and research regimens for study animals under the direction of the attending veterinarian.

•    Welfare Standards: Ensure the highest standards of animal care and welfare, complying strictly with USDA, the Animal Welfare Act, The Guide, the 3Rs principles, FDA regulations, and internal company policies.

2. Digital Stewardship, Coding & Data Analytics

•    Data Integration & Coding: Write basic code/scripts to merge study data from multiple sources. Build, maintain, and share clear, interactive dashboards (such as Power BI) to streamline daily scheduling and monitor team performance metrics.

•    Electronic Data Capture: Serve as an enterprise-minded data steward by utilizing cloud-based electronic data capture and study management platforms (e.g., Benchling, Signals) to ensure high data quality, standardization, and immediate accessibility.

•    Process Optimization: Proactively identify operational and technical hurdles in daily workflows. Propose and implement digital and procedural solutions to streamline workflows, reduce manual rework, and modernize study execution.

3.Study Operations & Cross-Functional Collaboration

•    Project Tracking: Manage study timelines, coordinate scheduling, and ensure the accuracy of all study data within corporate databases and tracking systems.

•    Cross-Site Alignment: Work fluidly across our research network to share knowledge, align methodologies, and ensure consistency in study execution and digital practices.

•    Scientific Communication: Clearly communicate study progress, operational challenges, and data interpretations to cross-functional project teams and supervisors. Maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized records of animal treatments, study data, procedures, inventories, research protocols, and reports.

•    On-Site Requirement: This is a fully on-site, research-based role located at our West Point, PA facility. Daily in-person attendance is required to perform critical hands-on laboratory tasks.

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Qualifications:

Minimum education required:

•    Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, Biology, Biotechnology, Bio-Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related scientific discipline.

Required experience and skills:

• Industry Experience: Minimum of 1 year of hands-on experience in an in-vivo laboratory setting (biotech, pharmaceutical, or CRO environment preferred).

•     In-Vivo Competency: Demonstrated proficiency in rodent and/or non-rodent handling, dosing techniques, and tissue collection. Demonstrable passion for animal care and welfare.

• Biologics Understanding: An applied understanding of biologics and peptide therapeutics, with the ability to help translate program strategies into fit-for-purpose study designs.

• Digital & Technical Aptitude: Proven experience using modern electronic lab notebooks (e.g., Benchling), study management software, or data visualization tools (e.g.,Power BI). Ability or strong willingness to write code/scripts to automate data compilation.

• Scientific Curiosity & Growth Mindset: Eager to learn new technical and scientific skills, with a strong desire to develop a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end drug discovery and pharmaceutical R&D process.

• Problem-Solving Mindset: A proactive, solution-oriented approach with the ability to work independently, recognize study/operational hurdles, and propose constructive resolutions.

• Communication & Teamwork: Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with a track record of working successfully in highly collaborative, cross-functional team environments.

• Work Schedule Flexibility: Ability and willingness to work a rotating shift that includes weekends and holidays as required.

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications:

• Professional certifications in veterinary technology or laboratory animal science (e.g., CVT, ASR, ALAT, LAT, LATg, CMAR).

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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.

The salary range for this role is

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:

Relocation:

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