Scientist II - Assay Development

Join the Biochemistry and Biophysics Group within the Department of Pharmacology at MRL-Boston for an exciting opportunity to advance early-stage drug discovery. In this role, you will collaborate closely with a dynamic, cross-functional scientific team dedicated to identifying and optimizing small molecule therapeutics. You will play a key part in characterizing target proteins and small molecule interactions, leveraging cutting-edge biochemical and biophysical methodologies to drive medicinal chemistry and high-throughput screening initiatives forward.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and run quantitative biochemical and biophysical assays to support small molecule ligand identification and lead optimization.
• Conduct detailed biochemical and biophysical studies to elucidate mechanisms of action and modes of ligand-protein interactions.
• Support high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns and ongoing medicinal chemistry efforts through robust compound profiling.
• Utilize advanced detection modalities to characterize target-ligand binding dynamics and enzymatic behavior.
• Perform steady-state and transient-state kinetic experiments to evaluate enzyme and inhibitor mechanisms.
• Operate and integrate automated liquid handlers to streamline assay throughput and compound handling.
• Analyze complex screening data using specialized analytical software and present findings clear and concisely to team members.
• Maintain detailed scientific records, trouble-shoot experimental workflows, and contribute to continuous laboratory optimization.

Education

• BS/BA degree in biochemistry, biophysics, or a related scientific discipline with 1–5 years of industry experience; OR
• MS degree in biochemistry, biophysics, or a related scientific discipline with 1+ years of industry experience (preferably focused on assay development and compound profiling in drug discovery).

Experience

• Solid foundational knowledge in biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology with practical experience in basic biochemical and biophysical techniques.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in assay development utilizing modalities such as TR-FRET, FP, LC-MS, radiochemical, SPR (BIAcore), fluorescence thermal shift (TdF), or ITC.
• Prior hands-on experience executing enzyme and inhibitor kinetic studies (steady-state and transient-state).
• Experience operating automated liquid handling platforms (e.g., Echo, Bravo, Biomek, or Hamilton).
• Proficiency with Windows OS, data analysis databases, and presentation applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and TIBCO Spotfire.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. ("Merck") is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human health, directly and through its joint ventures

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as saving and improving 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 other like-minded colleagues to pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is always evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.