Scientist – Cell Biology/Neuroscience - Oxidative and ER Stress Team - 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

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.

Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to isolate a compound that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthrough.

Our London Discovery Centre is seeking a passionate and driven scientist with expertise in cellular neurobiology to join our Oxidative and ER Stress team within the biology group. The scientist will be employed on a 12 month fixed-term contract.

The scientist will contribute to cutting edge biology work with a focus on investigating age-related neurodegeneration particularly within four key areas: oxidative and ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and neurogenesis. The scientist will benefit from access to state-of-the-art equipment to perform vital assays for drug discovery programs and to help validate future drug targets. Candidates should be able to work independently but will be expected to collaborate proactively and effectively with colleagues across disciplines. Primary responsibilities include experimental design and execution of in vitro and ex vivo experiments, immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry, confocal and high-content imaging, and image analysis. The successful candidate will have demonstrated effective teamwork and an ability to work in exploratory biology on target identification and validation projects.

The scientist’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Application of their knowledge of neurobiology to a range of drug discovery programmes,
• Design and execution in vitro studies to support the development of early potential drug candidates, including the preparation, maintenance, and analysis of organotypic brain slice cultures
• Design and implementation of novel disease-relevant cell culture systems,
• Understanding mechanisms of action using relevant assays,
• Keeping up to date with literature in the field,
• Contribution to laboratory running tasks and being a conscientious member of the team,
• Oral and written communication of data in a clear and concise manner to the appropriate teams and stakeholders,
• Proposing and assisting in validation of novel targets,
• Collaboration with members from other functional areas, including medicinal chemistry, in vivo and in vitro pharmacology, imaging, genetics and translational sciences,
• Work with external academic, biotechnology, and contract research organizations

Education:

• PhD in biochemistry, physiology, neuroscience or related discipline, or BSc/MSc with equivalent industry experience

Required:

• Experience of culturing recombinant cells, primary neuronal or glial cultures and/or iPSCs,
• Experience in establishing a wide range of assays to measure pathways of cell signaling,
• Strong analytical, statistical, and presentation skills,
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a team environment.

Preferred:

• Experience preparing, maintaining, and analysing organotypic brain slice cultures
• Experience in studying mechanisms of oxidative and ER stress responsible for neurodegenerative disease
• Exposure to high throughput instrumentation, including plate readers and liquid handling instrumentation.

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 …

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

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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.

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Relocation:

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Requisition ID:R125314