SENIOR SCIENTIST/ENGINEER - UPSTREAM VACCINE PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Job Description

SENIOR SCIENTIST/ENGINEER - UPSTREAM VACCINE PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Applications are sought for an opportunity in the Vaccine Process Development (VPD) department, which is part of our company's Research Labs (MRL) division of our company. The individual will support our company's bioprocess development efforts for Vaccine programs at West Point, PA.

The successful candidate is expected to work with other upstream scientists and engineers, typically focusing on one to two vaccine programs at a time, while also supporting the overall program management and governance activities across larger multi-functional and cross-divisional teams. The candidate must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team, self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude. The candidate must have the ability to learn new techniques, to balance multiple projects, to keep accurate records, to follow instructions, and to comply with company policies. The successful candidate will possess proven ability to work in a hands-on laboratory setting and excellent organization, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

• Support vaccine process development program and project management. Define workstream strategy, coordinate lab team efforts, contribute to program governance discussions at drug substance level, etc.
• Support tech transfer of drug substance processes to commercial site(s).
• Design, execute, and analyze process development experiments to maximize understanding of cell culture and fermentation processes to make vaccine products.
• Contribute to the development of new principles, concepts, and methods to enable process control, understanding, and scale-up/scale-down.
• Conduct laboratory bench work to execute, optimize, and troubleshoot cell culture or fermentation processes.
• Analyze, summarize, and present experimental results in a collaborative team environment.
• Interface with multidisciplinary groups and coordinate multiple program activities with Process R&D, Analytical R&D, Vaccine Basic Research, and various functional groups within our company.
• Supervise/Mentor the work of junior staff in the laboratory settings. Provide technical guidance in the various aspects of upstream process development of the vaccine candidate

Required Fields of Study:

Must have a BS or MS or PhD in relevant filed:

• Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering
• Science and Technology: Cell Biology, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology

Required Experience and Skills:

• For BS, at least six (6) years of experience in bioprocess/biotechnology-related position (vaccines and/or therapeutic proteins)
• For MS, at least five (5) years of experience in bioprocess/biotechnology-related position (vaccines and/or therapeutic proteins)
• Must have strong scientific understanding of fermentation and cell culture processes. Must have experience with hands-on bioprocess development.
• Excellent scientific understanding of cell biology for vaccine production including cell metabolism and molecular biology
• Demonstrated proficiency in bench scale bioreactor, shake flask, or other cell propagation system for the optimization of cell culture or fermentation processes
• Position requires employee to be willing to work with infectious agents and/or pathogens (BSL-2).
• Occasional travel and off hour/weekend work will be required.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior experience in optimizing recombinant protein expression (quality and quantity of product).
• Prior experience with fermentation bioprocesses (Yeast).
• Prior experience with bioprocess tech transfer to commercial sites.

NOTICEFORINTERNALAPPLICANTS

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 separationpackage, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

#EBRG

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 proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5,2023 our U.S. Hybrid work model will be as follows: 1. Three total days on site per week: Tuesday and Wednesday - plus one additional day of choice based on what works best for organizations and/or teams. 2. Fridays will formally be a remote-working day unless business critical tasks require onsite presence.

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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:
On-Site

Shift:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
Yes

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Requisition ID:R251225