Sr. Scientist, Custom Automation and Data Science in Discovery Chemistry High-Throughput Experimentation

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Scientist to join our High-Throughput Experimentation organization within Rahway Discovery Chemistry (RYDC), located in Rahway, NJ.

Our research laboratories are focused on the discovery and development of world-changing therapeutics. Co-located with the corporate headquarters, our multi-disciplinary research site offers cutting edge technology and resources to explore the most promising science combined with our company’s world-class R&D expertise for inventing medicines. Our state-of-the-art facility drives all aspects of drug discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of small molecules, biologics, and vaccines. 

At our company, we are inspired by the belief that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to scientific excellence can create medicines and vaccines that save and improve lives. Every employee is building on our proud legacy of scientific breakthrough to impact the lives of patients, which relies on the integrity, creativity, humility, and scientific acumen of our team. We are creating a diverse organization that is inspired by invention and founded on a culture of respect and collaboration. At our research laboratories, you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaboration with talented and dedicated colleagues while advancing your career.

Job Description:

Our Company is currently seeking an exceptional Chemist for a Senior Scientist position within the High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) group in the Rahway Discovery Chemistry Department located in Rahway, New Jersey. The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative cross-functional team of scientists whose mission is to fundamentally change the way new technologies and the data impact how medicines are invented. Our High-Throughput Experimentation organization is responsible for the invention of new technologies utilizing cutting edge robotics and data science to advance synthetic capabilities across multiple modalities including macrocyclic peptides, target protein degraders and small molecules. The successful candidate will join collaborative, multidisciplinary discovery teams across our company’s sites to invent novel workflows to accelerate the discovery of medicines by merging the frontiers of data science, machine learning, synthetic chemistry, HTE and automation.

In this Senior Scientist role, the chosen candidate will leverage robotically enabled high-throughput experimentation capabilities to help advance our modality agnostic pipeline. This includes designing new robotic work processes, utilizing data science to accelerate and optimally design experiments, and leveraging data in real time to drive decision-making. As such, the chosen candidate should have a robust background in high-throughput experimentation, automation, cheminformatics, and data science, with an emphasis on utilizing data to (semi)-autonomously drive decisions.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Creatively using deep knowledge of laboratory automation and data science to develop autonomous workflows.  

• Utilizing machine learning and advanced data science approaches to elucidate a deeper understanding of our large-scale experimental data to drive semi-autonomous iterative workflows.

• Interacting with medicinal chemistry project teams across modalities including macrocyclic peptides, target protein degraders and small molecules to develop new HTE workflows that enable project teams.

• Partnering with analytical chemists for the generation of tools to utilize analytics results in real-time.  

• Collaborating with modeling and cheminformatics ML experts on algorithmic optimization.

• Building and keeping a strong presence with the external chemistry community through high impact publications, external presentations and external collaborations.

• Utilizing strategic thinking skills to help shape the vision of Rahway Discovery Chemistry to create a new paradigm for how laboratory automation impacts medicinal chemistry.

Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, or related scientific discipline with seven (7) years' experience.

• Or; Masters degree in related fields with four (4) years' experience

• Or; PhD in related fields (received by January 2025) with 0 -2 years experience is highly preferred

Required Experience and Skills:

• Background and experience in laboratory automation, data science, computer programming, and utilizing synthetic data to drive automated decision making.

• Demonstrated abilities in data fluency including proficiency in handling large datasets, statistical analysis, data visualization, and data mining techniques.

• Must have excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills and a proven record of solving complex problems in a team environment.

• Track record of solving complex problems in organic synthesis; knowledgeable in modern catalytic methods.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in querying and building chemical databases.

• Expertise in high throughput experimentation and laboratory automation including integrating multiple pieces of laboratory automation equipment to deliver (semi)-autonomous workflows.

• Experience in new technology research, including a demonstrated track record of identifying, developing, and deploying data-rich tools and methodologies.

• Expertise in data analysis, including machine learning, deep learning, chemometrics, statistical analysis, and multivariate data analysis.

• Evidence of cross-functional collaboration in an academic or industrial setting. Motivated to learn new skills, willingness to take on new challenges, and scientific curiosity.

• Strong history of publication in peer-reviewed journals

#EBRG

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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 Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

$111,400.00 - $175,300.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Yes

Job Posting End Date:

10/16/2024

*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.