Senior Scientist, Respiratory Biology (Discovery Research)
Merck · South San Francisco (grand Ave), CA
ResearchFull-time$131k–$207kCompany career page
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Role summary
Senior Scientist position in respiratory biology discovery research at Merck, focused on target identification, validation, and mechanism-of-action studies for chronic lung diseases. The role involves designing in vitro and ex vivo experimental systems and generating mechanistic datasets to support early-stage discovery programs.
What they're looking for
- Bachelor's degree with 7+ years experience, Master's with 4+ years, or Ph.D. in biology, immunology, pharmacology, physiology, pulmonary biology, or related field
- Expertise in respiratory biology and human primary cell culture systems including airway and alveolar epithelial models
- Experience developing disease-relevant in vitro/ex vivo systems such as ALI cultures, organoids, co-cultures, or precision-cut lung slices
- Demonstrated proficiency in flow cytometry, imaging techniques (IHC, IF, confocal microscopy), and multiplex biomarker platforms
- Ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experimental studies with strong scientific communication skills
- Experience supporting translational biology, target validation, and mechanism-of-action research
What you'll be doing
- Design and execute in vitro and ex vivo studies supporting target discovery, validation, and translational biology programs
- Develop and apply disease-relevant experimental systems including primary cell cultures, ALI models, organoids, and co-culture platforms
- Generate mechanistic datasets investigating epithelial dysfunction, tissue remodeling, fibrosis, and immune responses in chronic lung diseases
- Apply imaging and flow cytometry techniques to interrogate disease-relevant biology and perform biomarker discovery with patient-derived samples
- Integrate cellular, molecular, and biomarker data to inform project decisions and communicate findings across multidisciplinary teams
Privacy & handoff
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