Job Description
The Associate Scientist will be part of a highly collaborative team working towards obtaining new cattle vaccine licenses. The incumbent will work semi-independently as a member of a project team to support development and evaluation of prototype viral and/or bacterial strains and vaccine platforms. The primary role of this position is performing laboratory activities, following established procedures, and assist in development of new assays or methods. The Associate Scientist will assist in the conduct of animal trials involving cattle and laboratory animals, and must have the ability to evaluate, summarize and troubleshoot study findings. The candidate will organize and execute one or more general tasks within the department.
Technical – The Associate Scientist will apply established procedures, technologies, and methodologies to complete assignments, and detect deviations, investigate causes and suggest improvements. The incumbent will support projects by performing experimental procedures to advance development, improvement, and/or transfer of new or existing products, production processes or laboratory methods upon assignment by the supervisor. The incumbent will act as study investigator/supervisor or responsible scientist to organize, conduct and report routine animal and laboratory experiments. Laboratory work will include general cell culture, virus propagation, microbiology culture, titration assays, neutralization assays, sterile technique, preparing and testing study samples, preparing vaccines, and performing or optimizing/validating new assays. The techniques applied will include but not be limited to ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction), IFA (immunofluorescent antibody assay), flow cytometry, HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), and Western blot. The incumbent is responsible for thorough documentation of laboratory work and results and will support training of other scientists and new employees.
Inter-departmental – The Associate Scientist will fulfill general tasks within the organization related to safety, compliance, and laboratory maintenance, and will interact closely with fellow scientists within own and other departments.
Position Qualifications
Education Minimum Requirement:
B.S./B.A. degree in Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Animal Science or a related field
Required Experience And Skills
- Ability to conduct research project activities under supervision
- Ability to plan project activities and meet timelines
- Must have general experience with laboratory techniques
- Must have good verbal and written communication skills
- Must have good computer skills including knowledge of Word and Excel
Preferred Experience And Skills
- Bacterial culture and titration assays
- Mammalian cell culture techniques
- Viral culture, titration and infectivity assays
- Antigen Potency ELISA, serology and neutralizing antibody assays
- Experience working with large animals in vaccine development research or related field
- Familiarity with USDA product licensure requirements
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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.
Requirements
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:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
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.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$70,500.00 - $110,900.00
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:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship
No
Travel Requirements
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements
Not Applicable
Shift
1st - Day
Valid Driving License
No
Hazardous Material(s)
n/a
Required Skills
Accountability, Animal Science, Assay Development, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Cell Culture Techniques, Communication, Data Analysis, Laboratory Techniques, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Pipetting, Scientific Writing, Social Collaboration, Statistical Analysis, Teamwork
Preferred Skills
Job Posting End Date:
09/26/2025
- 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.
Requisition ID:R366902
