Associate Principal Scientist, Systems Biology

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST – SYSTEMS BIOLOGY

Vacancies & Advanced Biotechnologies Department, Research & Development Division – We’re seeking a passionate and talented systems biologist with expertise in generating and analyzing complex multidimensional biological data to support discovery and development at our West Point, PA location. Responsibilities Directly contribute to multiple stages of therapeutic development through rigorous design or implementation of high‑dimensional functional genomics and cellular profiling assays, including in vitro and in vivo pooled/arrayed CRISPR screens, single‑cell transcriptomics and lineage tracing, and experimental or in silico proteomic datasets. Perform statistically rigorous quantitative analyses while applying reproducible research and data integrity practices to large‑scale biological datasets. Analyze, interpret, and summarize complex biological data and use data visualization tools to communicate findings to broader audiences. Identify, analyze, and integrate internal and external data and knowledge resources to enable data mining in a biological context and inform actionable insights for pipeline development. Develop and implement experimental and/or computational methods to combine results from functional genomics screens and other data sets (RNA‑Seq, DRUG‑seq, WGS, CRISPR, single‑cell RNA‑Seq, proteomics, metabolomics) with additional biological data streams to generate deep biological knowledge and drive innovation. Cross‑Functional Team Contributions Provide clear interpretation of high‑dimensional data and propose candidates for further computational and biological interrogation. Engage with cross‑functional teams to translate biological hypotheses into experimental or computational interrogations of functional genomics data and multi‑omics molecular profiles to drive iterative experimental design decisions. Work in a highly collaborative environment, embedded with genetics, chemistry, pharmacology, and molecular and cellular biology to accelerate therapeutic development. Career Development Survey relevant literature on novel experimental and computational methods and introduce them into the in‑house portfolio of workflows. Keep up‑to‑date on project‑relevant literature and attend relevant conferences. Further professional development by participating in workshops and seminars focused on personal and professional growth. Required Education and Experience Ph.D. in Systems Biology, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Biostatistics, Genetics, Immunology, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Statistics, or related field and 4 years of experience. Experience can be a mix of relevant academic or industrial experience. Required Experience and Skills Applied Experience Demonstrated experience with experimental and/or computational strategies and interpretation of large‑scale biological data such as sequencing modalities and pooled/arrayed CRISPR screens. Fluency with generation and/or analysis of diverse large‑scale NGS datasets (RNA‑seq, WES, scRNA‑seq, spatial transcriptomics, etc). Experience with statistical hypothesis testing methodology and machine learning concepts and methods. Experience integrating results from multiple data sources and biological knowledge bases to extract meaningful insights. Technical Skills Fluency with experimental and/or computational methods for generating and interrogating high‑dimensional data. Programming skills in R, Rshiny, tidyverse, Python, MATLAB, with ability to create interpretable visualizations. Experience with cell culture, RNA/DNA extractions, library preparation, molecular biology tools, and experimental design strategies. Experience with HPC, AWS cloud computing infrastructure, and Linux environments. Experience with version control systems such as Git (e.g., GitHub) and ability to adapt to existing analytic frameworks. Preferred Experience and Skills Understanding of algorithm pros and cons for DNA‑seq, RNA‑seq, single‑cell RNA‑seq and functional genomics data. Familiarity with data and analytic capabilities of public repositories and databases of DNA, RNA, protein, single‑cell, and functional genomics data. Experience extracting meaningful biological insights from high‑dimensional readouts. Strong publication record. Required Skills Bioanalytical Analysis, Biomarker Development, Cell Cultures, Computational Biology, Creativity, CRISPR‑Cas System, Data Visualization, Detail‑Oriented, Immunology, Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Metabolomics, Molecular Biology, NGS Data Analysis, NGS Technologies, Pipeline Development, Project Management, Proteomics, RNA Sequencing, Scientific Writing, Single‑Cell Genomics, Statistical Analysis, Systems Biology. Equal Employment Opportunity 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. For more information about personal rights under U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights, EEOC GINA Supplement. Salary and Benefits Salary Range: $142,400.00 – $224,100.00. The salary selected within this range will be based on education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business needs. Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, health care, and other insurance benefits for employees and families; retirement benefits including 401(k); paid holidays; vacation; compassionate and sick days. For more information about compensation and benefits, visit: #J-18808-Ljbffr Merck & Co.