Principal Scientist, Computational Chemistry

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Job description

Job Description

Subject to applicable law, all prospective hires will be required to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or intend to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 1, 2021, or qualify for a medical or religious accommodation to this vaccination requirement. Hired candidates who are not vaccinated by November 1, 2021, and who have not been approved for a legally-required medical or religious accommodation will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment, subject to applicable law.

Position Description

We are seeking a creative, self-motivated computational chemist with exceptional interpersonal and problem-solving skills to join the Computational and Structural Chemistry (CSC) department in Boston, MA, US.

CSC is a diverse and inclusive team of approximately 110 computational chemists, informaticians, structural scientists, mass spectrometrists, biophysicists, and protein scientists who employ state of the art capabilities to drive drug design. We are an integral arm of both discovery and process chemistry and collaborate seamlessly with teams across the globe to innovate and invent better molecules faster. We are looking for a strategic thinker and accomplished computational drug hunter to take on a position that carries significant influence across chemistry from target identification through delivery of clinical candidates.

Key responsibilities will include:

Scientific Innovation:

• Design and optimization of drug candidates using advanced computational techniques as a member of discovery teams
• Coordinating computational chemistry needs at our Exploratory Science Center in Cambridge, MA, US
• Functioning as a subject matter champion for ligand- and structure-based drug design across discovery teams
• Contributing to the continued growth and development of chemistry colleagues as a representative on the chemistry training team
• Advancing our modeling capabilities through invention and implementation of new methodology

Strategy:

• Leading specific strategic efforts to enable our future vision for Modeling and Informatics in chemistry
• Enabling a design-driven and predict-first culture throughout Chemistry
• Contributing to our overarching drug discovery strategy

Building Relationships:

• Mentorship and scientific development of CSC staff both locally and across our network
• Building bridges and fruitful collaborations with stakeholders across medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics, quantitative biosciences, and therapeutic area biology

We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

Ph.D. or M.S. in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, or equivalent with a computational emphasis

Required Experience and Skills:

• 8 years of professional experience with a Ph.D., or 10 years with a M.S.
• Evidence of creative application of computational approaches to problems of pharmaceutical interest
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with a recognized ability to positively influence team decisions
• Ability to communicate, collaborate and deliver results in a fast-paced, global environment and to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Ability to see the 'big picture', and identify opportunities for impact now and in the future

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Desire to lead strategic efforts relevant to drug discovery
• Passion for mentoring scientific staff
• Proficiency in general molecular modeling techniques (docking, molecular simulation, homology modeling, quantum mechanics, QSAR / machine learning, ligand- and structure-based design) with modern software packages (e.g. Schrodinger, OpenEye, CCG)
• Skilled in scientific programming (e.g. Python, Pipeline Pilot) and data analytics (e.g. Spotfire)

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we "follow the science" that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

Who we are ...

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for ...

In a world of rapid innovation, we seek brave Inventors who want to make an Impact in all aspects of our business, enabling breakthroughs that will affect generations to come. We encourage you to bring your disruptive thinking, collaborative spirit and diverse perspective to our organization.

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.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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 if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit:

EEOC Poster

EEOC GINA Supplement

OFCCP EEO Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

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.

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Kenilworth, 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:
No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Number of Openings:
1