Senior Scientist – In Vivo Neuroimmunology

Job Description

Our company's Neuroscience is recruiting a Sr. Scientist in our Neuroimmunology team in Boston, MA to lead in vivo model development and validation to advance novel immune-based therapies for CNS diseases. As a Sr. Scientist, you will apply your expertise to evaluate PK/PD and disease-relevant endpoints in murine models to advance pipeline programs. This lab-based role requires independent ownership of study design, execution, sample processing and evaluation, data analysis, and clear communication of results to cross-functional project teams and stakeholders. The successful candidate will be able to work independently as well as proactively collaborate with colleagues to generate high-impact data to drive decision making and advance drug discovery.

Key responsibilities of the In Vivo Neuroimmunology Sr. Scientist include:

• Design, execute, and report murine in vivo studies addressing target validation, mechanism of action, PK/PD, and translational biomarkers; take end‑to‑end ownership of study planning and documentation.

• Perform and supervise dosing (IV, IP, PO, SC and other routes), blood collection, cardiac perfusion, and careful dissection/collection of CNS and peripheral tissues.

• Prepare and fractionate tissues for biochemical and molecular assays (soluble/insoluble protein fractions) and execute immunoassays and RNA analyses (e.g. ELISA, OLINK, NULISA, western blot, flow cytometry, qPCR/RT‑qPCR, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing).

• Process, curate, and analyze datasets; apply statistical and computational tools to generate figures, study reports and presentations that inform program decisions.

• Troubleshoot and optimize experimental and analytical workflows, validate new methods, ensure reproducibility, and maintain accurate records.

• Communicate results clearly to project teams and the broader scientific community (internal reports, presentations, and publications), and uphold laboratory safety, animal welfare and regulatory compliance while collaborating across functions and with external partners.

 

Work environment and travel:

• This is an on‑site, laboratory position based in Boston. Occasional travel (<10%) may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Master's (with 5+ years) or Ph.D. (with 1 year) in Neuroscience, Molecular Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Biology or related field with relevant experience

 

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated hands‑on experience designing and executing rodent in vivo experiments including stereotaxic surgeries (intracerebral and intracerebroventricular injections)

• Proficiency with multiple routes of dosing, blood collection methods, cardiac perfusion, and dissection of CNS (discrete brain regions, spinal cord) and peripheral tissues

• Practical experience preparing tissue fractions (soluble/insoluble proteins) and performing biochemical and molecular assays (e.g. ELISA, OLINK, NULISA, western blot, RNA sequencing or qPCR)

• Experience independently analyzing and visualizing experimental data including from multiplexed platforms

• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to prepare study reports and present findings to diverse audiences

• Ability to work independently within a collaborative, cross‑functional team

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Industry drug‑discovery experience in pharmaceutical or biotech settings

• Hands‑on proficiency with murine procedures including CSF collection and osmotic‑pump implantation/management

• Experience with inflammatory and neurodegenerative transgenic mouse models or with PK/PD and dose–response study design/interpretation

• Experience designing and executing sequencing studies (i.e. bulk RNAseq, scRNAseq or snRNAseq), working knowledge of data analysis tools (Python and/or RStudio preferred) and experience generating figures/reports

• Experience mentoring or supervising early‑career scientists and collaborating across functional teams

• Record of contributions to scientific publications or presentations

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Biology, Blood Specimen Collection, Cardiac Perfusion, Dosing, In Vivo Animal Models, In Vivo Experiment, In Vivo Studies, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research, Pharmacology, Stereotaxic Surgery

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.

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

$119,100.00 - $187,500.00

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

07/7/2026

*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.