Associate Scientist, Post Doctoral Fellow- Health Economics/Mathematical Infectious Disease Modeler (Hybrid)

Job Description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – (Associate Scientist)

Be a part of a unique research experience with an academic focus in a commercial environment. Research Laboratories Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be a best-in-industry program for industrial postdoctoral researchers. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, postdoctoral researchers are positioned to excel in an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery development.

Position Overview:

This position is in the vaccine modeling team of the Health Economic and Decision Sciences (HEDS) department withing Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences (BARDS) at our Research and Development Division. BARDS HEDS provides strategic and analytic modeling expertise to measure and quantify the value of the company’s products. As part of an agile team, the fellow will develop and support a seamless mechanism of coordination and collaboration in a dynamic area of interdisciplinary research. Collaboration with modeling scientists, data scientists, IT partners, and subject matter experts will ensure effective deployment of ordinary differential equation and agent-based vaccine models, which will be used to simulate infectious disease spread, assess vaccine effectiveness at the population level, and evaluate key elements of vaccine trial designs.

At BARDS, we value in our working environment where employees are enabled to develop and contribute.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Reporting under a Senior Director within the Vaccines team within HEDS, the fellow is expected to:

• Explore current vaccine-related structural assumptions and parametrization strategies employed in dynamic transmission models of infectious disease,
• Explore current methodologies for uncertainty quantification and model selection with respect to vaccine-related structural assumptions and parameterization strategies,
• Develop dynamic transmission models of infectious disease to evaluate the impact of different vaccine-related structural assumptions,
• Develop and evaluate different methods for model selection and uncertainty quantification in the context of vaccine-related structural assumptions used in dynamic transmission models of infectious disease,
• Develop excellent working relationships within partner across our Research and Development Division; ensure effective cross-functional collaboration across teams,
• Collaborate externally and solicit input from appropriate stakeholders and adopt latest techniques from relevant published literature, and
• Disseminate key research findings/methodology via scientific presentations at congresses and publications in scientific journals.

Education Minimum Requirement:  

Candidates should currently hold a PhD OR will receive a PhD by the start of employment in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or a closely-related quantitative field.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Previous experience with mathematical modeling of complex dynamic systems,

• Previous experience working on interdisciplinary research projects and/or working within interdisciplinary teams,

• Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize complex information in order to draw conclusions and make recommendations,
• Strong creative problem solving skills, and
• Strong interpersonal, networking, presentation, and communication skills.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Previous experience with dynamic transmission models of infectious disease,
• Previous experience with agent-based model development and implementation,
• Previous experience with parameter estimation and identification,
• Background in economics and/or previous experience with cost-effectiveness analysis, and
• Ability to communicate effectively in English in both verbal and written formats

postdoctoralopportunities

Required Skills:

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Exploration, Infectious Disease, Interdisciplinary Research, Mathematics Modeling, Scientific Presentations, Uncertainty Quantification

Preferred Skills:

Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Biomedical Research, Business Networking, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Designs, Communication, Community Research, Computer Networking, Economics, Health Education, Health Informatics, Higher Education Research, Innovation, International Research, Job Placement, Medical Research, Mentorship, Organizational Behavior, Policy Research, Preclinical Research, Qualitative Research, Research Administration, Research Development, R Programming {+ 6 more}

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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

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

08/7/2026

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