Scientist - II

Scientist II

Position Description:

Vaccine Drug Product Development, a division within Merck Research Laboratories in West Point, PA, is seeking a Contract Scientist or Engineer to join the department for a one-year assignment. This 100% onsite, laboratory-based position will support the design and development of vaccine drug products from preclinical stages through Phase III, with a line of sight to commercialization.

The successful candidate will work hands-on in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop next-generation vaccine formulations and delivery systems. Responsibilities will focus on the formulation, characterization, and process development of vaccine drug products including RNA, live virus vaccines, subunit, conjugate antigens, and adjuvants.

Positions Available: 2

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and perform hypothesis-driven formulation and process development experiments for sterile vaccine drug products (buffers, stabilizers, antigens/adjuvants, vials, syringes) across multiple vaccine modalities.
• Prepare formulations and fill vials/syringes for characterization and animal studies using aseptic technique and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP); support technology transfer to GMP manufacturing.
• Conduct stability and forced-degradation studies; analyze data, summarize results, and author technical reports and electronic notebook entries.
• Operate and troubleshoot benchtop unit operations (mixing, filtration, pumping, lyophilization), laboratory instruments (pH meters, balances, pipettes), and analytical tools (DLS, SLS, KF, DSC, DSF).
• Support selected analytical testing on formulated products (e.g., osmolality, viscosity, pH, dynamic light scattering).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with discovery, analytical, manufacturing, and regulatory teams to meet project timelines.
• Draft, review, and execute protocols for batch manufacturing.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory work environment while adhering to safety standards and best practices.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, methods, and literature to drive innovation in formulation and process development.

Skills & Qualifications
Required:

• Hands-on laboratory experience (academic or industry) designing, executing, and interpreting experimental results.
• Strong communication, technical writing, and collaboration skills.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.
• Ability to provide critical input into experimental plans and approaches.
• Team-oriented, motivated to learn, and capable of managing multiple priorities under supervision.

Desired:

• Experience with analytical characterization of biotherapeutics, including protein biochemistry and biophysical analysis (e.g., particle size, stability, or aggregation studies).
• Experience in formulation development of biotherapeutics (RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, live viral vaccines, and adjuvants).
• Demonstrated proficiency in aseptic technique.
• Understanding of drug product manufacturing processes and scale-up considerations.
• Experience in preparation or manufacturing of safety assessment or clinical supplies.
• Experience authoring source documents for regulatory filings.
• Knowledge of lyophilization techniques, including evaluation of residual moisture and physical properties of lyophilized products.
• Prior experience with drug product development techniques such as formulation, filtration, analytical/biochemical/biophysical characterization, and process development.

Education:

B.S. in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Virology, or related discipline with 3–5 years of relevant experience; or
M.S. in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Virology, or related discipline with 1–2 years of relevant experience.