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Job Description

Position Overview

Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) is a multi-disciplinary research group that enables drug discovery and drug product development through application of pharmaceutical science and drug delivery research from target identification through clinical candidate selection for both therapeutics and vaccines. DPS in West Point, PA is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the department. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary effort to evaluate the delivery and stability of structurally diverse large molecule APIs (therapeutic proteins, peptides, vaccine antigens) through development of versatile biomaterial platforms based on hydrogels. Responsibilities will include the design, preparation, and characterization of formulation approaches, evaluation of drug release kinetics in vitro, and stability assessment under accelerated conditions. The successful candidate will partner to support the design and execution of in vivo studies for preclinical performance.

Additionally, the successful candidate will work closely with colleagues in Pharmaceutical Sciences and connect with the therapeutic discovery, analytical R&D, drug substance and drug product development organizations to address the formulation and delivery challenges of biologics and vaccines. Novel findings will be presented at both internal and external scientific forums and published in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will independently develop and implement scientific ideas and strategies in an interdisciplinary environment, sharing learnings with cross-functional teams and gaining insight into many aspects of biologic and vaccine discovery, development, and manufacturing.

Minimum required education:

Candidates must currently hold a Ph.D. OR earn a Ph.D. degree by Spring of 2026. Degree should be in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or related disciplines.

Required experience and skills:

+ Background in materials science, biomaterials, polymer chemistry, supramolecular materials, protein/vaccine formulations and/or bioconjugation techniques.

+ Knowledge and experience in materials and analytical characterization.

+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills

+ Excellent interpersonal skills and strong ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.

+ Independently takes initiatives in problem solving and find solutions to scientific challenges.

+ Strong scientific acumen and motivation to solve complex scientific problems via independent planning, design, execution, and interpretation of experiments.

Preferred experience and skills:

Experience and knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

+ Soft materials/biomaterials design and supramolecular hydrogels.

+ Formulation and drug delivery.

+ Complex delivery systems including gels, liposomes, and particulate-based formulations.

+ Protein science and biochemistry including understanding of molecular liabilities and post-translational modification.

+ Protein biophysical and biochemical characterization.

+ Chemical process mathematical modeling

+ Experimental knowledge and skills in materials science characterization (such as DLS, SLS, DSC, FTIR, electron microscopy, NMR, rheology) and/or analytical methodologies of large molecules (such as CD, fluorescence, UV-Vis, SDS-PAGE, CE-SDS, cIEF, SEC, HPLC, ELISA)

+ Familiarity with state-of-the-art drug delivery technologies from academic and industry.

+ Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications

postdoctoralopportunities

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Culture Techniques, Chemical Engineering, Computational Biology, Data Analysis, Drug Delivery, Fluorescence, Immunoassays, In Vivo Mouse Models, Materials Science, Mathematical Biology, Mechatronics, Molecular Biology, Parasitology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Polymer Chemistry, Polymers Technology, Programming Languages, Protein Analysis, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing {+ 3 more}

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 (https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL) 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:

EEOC Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights\_10\_20.pdf)

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 (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/)

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”.

**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

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/17/2025

*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:** R371378