Associate Scientist, Post Doc Fellow

Merck seeks a postdoctoral research fellow to lead independent research on polysaccharide conjugate vaccine antigen processing and MHC II-restricted epitope presentation. The role combines academic rigor with pharmaceutical resources, focusing on vaccine mechanism of action and efficacy through innovative epitope mapping approaches.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute independent end-to-end experiments addressing MHC II epitope mapping and vaccine mechanism of action
• Prepare and purify MHC II-peptide and glycopeptide complexes from human antigen presenting cells via immunoprecipitation
• Identify peptide and polysaccharide epitopes isolated from different human cell types
• Assess T-cell activation using synthesized immunodominant peptides and polysaccharide-conjugated peptides
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate findings through presentations and peer-reviewed publications

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Virology, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, or related field
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and immunological assays (ELISA, Western Blot, Flow Cytometry)
• Significant expertise in MHC I/II epitope identification using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry
• Self-directed problem-solving with ability to apply innovative, state-of-the-art technologies
• Strong oral and written communication skills for scientific presentations and publications
• Familiarity with biophysical and biochemical characterization techniques (mass spectrometry, size-exclusion chromatography preferred)

Compensation: $82,000-$92,000 base