Sr. Scientist, Neuroimmunology

Job Description

Location: Boston, MA

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated, laboratory-based scientist to join the Neuroimmunology team at our Company. This role is ideal for a hands-on experimentalist with expertise in preclinical models, neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration, and translational biology. The successful candidate will independently design and execute in vivo studies, generate mechanistic insights into microglial biology, and contribute to the discovery of novel therapies for CNS diseases.

Key Responsibilities

• Play a key role in supporting pipeline programs by designing and executing studies, interpreting complex datasets, and communicating findings to cross-functional teams

• Serve as a hands-on scientist conducting in vivo procedures and downstream analyses.

• Generate and interpret pharmacology, efficacy, biomarker, and mechanistic datasets to support target validation and drug discovery programs.

• Perform CNS immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, molecular profiling, and histological analyses.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, biologics, biomarker sciences, and data science.

• The individual is expected to provide scientific leadership, contribute to program strategy, and influence decision-making through data-driven recommendations.

 

Required Qualifications

Education and experience:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field; postdoctoral industry experience preferred.

OR

Master's degree in Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, Neurology, or a related STEM field with:

• Minimum 6+ years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience.

Required Skills:

• Extensive hands-on experience with rodent in vivo studies

• Experience with mouse models of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, or CNS disease.

• Expertise in flow cytometry, CNS immune cell isolation, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology techniques.

• Familiarity with omics approaches (RNA-seq, single-cell technologies) and data analysis.

• Strong experimental design, statistical analysis, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a cross-functional research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry experience supporting discovery or early development programs in CNS disorders.

• Experience with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, or related neurodegenerative diseases.

• Hands-on experience with transgenic rodent models, including behavioral, pharmacology, and biomarker studies.

• Experience with primary microglia cultures, macrophages, immune cell assays, or iPSC-derived CNS cell systems.

• Familiarity with translational biomarkers, PK/PD relationships, and mechanism-based drug development.

• Experience working within multidisciplinary drug discovery teams and advancing programs from target validation through candidate selection.

• Prior experience leading collaborative projects, in particular, the ability to coordinate activities across multiple functions will be an important consideration

The ideal candidate is a highly independent scientist who enjoys working at the bench, excels in in vivo experimentation, and is passionate about advancing innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Animal Models, Assay Development, Biochemical Assays, Cell Culture Techniques, Flow Cytometry, Immunoassays, Immunology, In Vivo Models, Mouse Handling, Neuroanatomy, Neurodegeneration, Neuroimmunology, Omics, Pharmacodynamics, Transcriptomics

Preferred Skills:

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.

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

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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

The salary range for this role is

$119,100.00 - $187,500.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Hazardous Material(s) (Add n/a if this does not apply to the role) OEB4, BSL2, Standard lab reagents

Job Posting End Date:

08/21/2026

*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.