2025 University Recruiting - Data, AI, and Genome Sciences (DAGS), AI/ML Intern - Military Veterans

Job Description

The Continuous & Expression Technologies (CET) Group, within the Process Research & Development Enabling Technologies department, is seeking motivated and creative individuals. This is an opportunity to positively impact our company's manufacturing platforms, while actively supporting drug development in the biologics and vaccine arenas. Specifically, CET is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist specializing in perfusion cell culture and bioprocessing intensification technologies for multiple therapeutic classes.

Our Scientists are our Inventors. As a member of the CET Group, you will drive scientific innovation and critically evaluate opportunities to implement enabling technologies. We are seeking a collaborative, self-directed learner with a penchant for problem-solving and expertise in upstream bioprocessing to join the CET group. Our group is tasked with identifying, developing, and deploying continuous manufacturing tools aimed at improving production processes in our company's drug candidate pipeline. Knowledge of cell culture processes, cell physiology and metabolic activity for process engineering, strategies for process intensification, and process analytical technologies (PAT) are valued skills within the group. A high level of innovation, creativity, and initiative along with the ability drive technically sound experiments are critical. The chosen candidate should also have excellent interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills and exhibit a strength in delivering results on firm deadlines. We actively publish and engage with the scientific community to influence the field.

As an Associate Principal Scientist, you will have the opportunity to influence the future direction of our company's upstream processing, encompassing biologics and vaccines. You will work with an immensely creative and collaborative team of scientists and engineers to design upstream, cell-culture processes while developing technical strategies related to upstream continuous processing and recombinant expression of drug candidates . As upstream lead scientist in the group, you will mentor and coach junior upstream scientists.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As an impactful contributor, shape and realize innovation across biologics' and vaccines' pipeline, strategy, and science
• Advance best science incorporation into pipeline by collaborating with cross-functional teams, from Research & Manufacturing, in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
• Lead development of robust and scalable technologies for upstream processes
• Identify areas for upstream process innovation/intensification and expand our technologies toolbox to address challenges at different stages of development (clinical, process characterization and commercialization)
• Advance upstream processes by improving efficiency and cost effectiveness through research and innovation, while assessing technologies and industry best practices
• Collaborate with academia, industry, and vendors to drive development and early adoption of novel process technologies
• Contribute to strategic initiatives; partner with senior leaders to set overall project strategy, and guide teams towards its execution
• Conceptualize, plan, and execute projects with effective organizational, prioritization and problem-solving skills
• Stay abreast of scientific and regulatory landscape; actively present (premier conferences), publish (peer-reviewed journals) and patent
• Represent CMT group as an upstream, cell-culture expert in internal, cross-functional project teams and external conferences/consortia
• Mentor and actively share expertise; guide career development; build strong, collaborative teams
• Champion compliance and safety; promote a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Ph.D. with 3+ years, MS with 5+ years, or BS with 8+ years of industry experience and background in Chemical/Biochemical engineering, or a related field

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong fundamental knowledge and subject matter expertise in mammalian cell-culture process development
• Expertise CHO perfusion cell culture, bioreactors across scales, as well as recent advances, and challenges in the field
• Experience in continuous biomanufacturing and high-throughput microbioreactors
• Expertise in independently conducting and directing the design, execution, analysis, and documentation of all stages of cell-culture process development
• Track record of accomplishments in upstream bioprocessing with a history of peer-reviewed publications and presentations
• Adaptability and agility to prioritize and deliver complex objectives, often on tight timelines, in a rapidly changing environment
• Experience and aptitude to lead, work, and collaborate in internal and external cross-functional, matrixed teams
• Action-oriented, mindset for creativity; ability to take initiative, innovate, iterate, and problem-solve
• Demonstrated commitment to coach and mentor staff to maximize talent development and utilization
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• Knowledge of biologics or vaccines CMC development teams
• Knowledge of bacterial cell culture or fermentation
• Experience with bioreactors integrated with process-analytical technologies
• Intensified inoculum, and seed train perfusion process development
• Expertise in media/solution development and chemistry
• High-throughput experimentation, automation, and process control
• Knowledge of microbial fermentation
• Cell culture and predictive modeling (omics, metabolic flux analysis); statistics, data-science, machine learning, artificial intelligence

#ET #PRD

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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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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.

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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, 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

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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

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:
02/26/2025
*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.