Senior Scientist, Molecular & Viral Safety

Job Description

The Molecular & Viral Safety group within Cell-Based Sciences is seeking a detail-oriented, technically skilled Senior Scientist to support daily operations in our Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) laboratory and contribute to multidisciplinary analytics. This hands-on role is ideal for someone with a strong background in molecular biology techniques and an interest in basic bioinformatics and computational workflows.

 

The successful candidate will be responsible for executing established protocols for nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, sequencing, and will perform routine data processing and basic bioinformatics analyses. The senior scientist will collaborate within a dynamic, integrated, and multidisciplinary team supporting both vaccine and biologics modalities and will contribute to the development and implementation of next‑generation sequencing technologies to help ensure that our products are free of adventitious agents as well as provide sequencing support to other priority programs of our Company.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform DNA and RNA extraction from a variety of sample types (e.g., tissues, cell cultures, in-process samples) following standardized procedures.

• Prepare NGS libraries using automated and manual workflows for platforms such as Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

• Operate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory instrumentation including sequencers, thermocyclers, and liquid handling robots.

• Perform quality control (QC) assessments using fluorometric quantification (e.g., Qubit), electrophoresis, and fragment analysis (e.g., TapeStation).

• Process raw sequencing data and perform routine bioinformatics tasks such as quality trimming, read mapping, basic variant calling, and generating summary metrics/reports using established pipelines.

• Execute and adapt basic command-line bioinformatics tools (e.g., FastQC, BWA/Minimap2, Samtools, bcftools) and utilize workflow managers or pipelines where applicable.

• Prepare, visualize, and interpret data outputs (e.g., coverage plots, QC summaries, variant tables) and communicate results to cross-functional teams.

• Work with bioinformatics colleagues to validate and implement new analysis pipelines and troubleshoot analysis issues.

• Utilize and be familiar with high-performance computing (HPC) environments, job schedulers (e.g., SLURM), and basic cluster file system concepts; transfer and manage sequencing data securely between local workstations and shared compute resources.

• Adhere to good laboratory practices (GMP), standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety policies, and quality assurance protocols to ensure accuracy, compliance, and reproducibility.

• Record, manage, and organize experimental data using electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) and other digital systems, ensuring data integrity and traceability of computational analyses.

• Support laboratory operations, including inventory management, ordering, and restocking of consumables and reagents.

• Contribute to technical reports, study summaries, and sections of regulatory filing documents, including documentation of computational methods and software versions.

• Participate in method optimization, implementation of new technologies, and continuous improvement of laboratory and computational workflows.

• Collaborate effectively with colleagues across functions (e.g., analytical development, process development, quality, manufacturing, bioinformatics) in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment.

Education Minimum Requirement

• Ph.D.; or

• Master’s degree with a minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience; or

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8+ years of relevant experience in virology, microbiology, molecular biology, biological sciences, or a related discipline, preferably in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Required Experience and Skills

• Strong background and direct experience with core virology, molecular biology, and/or microbiology techniques (e.g., PCR/qPCR, nucleic acid extraction).

• Extensive experience with Next-Generation Sequencing workflows, including library preparation, run setup, and sequencing performance evaluation.

• Experience with automated liquid handling platforms or automated library preparation systems.

• Experience developing molecular methods and strong, systematic troubleshooting skills.

• Demonstrated ability to follow SOPs, generate high‑quality data, and maintain accurate laboratory documentation.

• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to deliver on multiple priorities under strict timelines in a rapidly changing environment.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a diverse, cross‑functional, team‑based environment.

• Demonstrated scientific contributions through publications in peer‑reviewed journals, conference presentations, or internal technical reports.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and strong interpersonal skills.

• Ability to deliver complex objectives under strict timelines in a rapidly changing environment.

• Familiarity with laboratory quality systems and regulated environments (e.g., GLP, GMP, or GCP).

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience with LIMS, digital tracking systems, and/or electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) applications, including good documentation practices and data integrity principles.

• Prior experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and/or knowledge of biologics and vaccine manufacturing or analytics.

• Prior hands-on experience running basic bioinformatics pipelines and analyzing sequencing datasets (e.g., metagenomics/adventitious agent screening, small genome assembly, viral variant analysis).

• Basic working knowledge of bioinformatics concepts and command-line tools for NGS data processing and QC.

• Familiarity with Linux command-line environment and basic scripting (e.g., bash, Python or R) to run, monitor, and document analysis pipelines.

•  Experience working with or willingness to learn HPC environments and job schedulers (e.g., SLURM) and best practices for data transfer and storage.

• Exposure to adventitious agent testing, viral safety, or related biosafety disciplines is a plus.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Amplicon Sequencing, Analytical Method Development, Assay Development, Bioanalytical Analysis, Biochemical Assays, Bioinformatic Analysis, Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Software, Bioinformatics Tools, Cell-Based Assays, Chromatographic Techniques, Communication, DNA Sequencing, Gene Sequencing, Genome Sequencing, Genomic Analysis, GMP Environments, Illumina Sequencing, Innovative Thinking, Microbial Genomics, miRNA Sequencing, Molecular Biology {+ 3 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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

$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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:

06/26/2026

*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.