Distinguished Scientist, Neglected Tropical Disease Discovery

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated senior level scientist to develop and lead a discovery portfolio focused on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with a primary focus on Malaria, TB, and AMR. The successful candidate will shape scientific strategy, drive target and lead identification, and progress innovative therapeutic concepts from early discovery toward development. This role requires strong scientific depth, strategic thinking, and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary, matrixed teams. The candidate will also have to work to secure funding through external partnerships.

Depending on level and experience, the role will have increasing expectations for scientific leadership, strategic impact, and portfolio ownership.

Key Responsibilities:

Scientific and Portfolio Leadership

• Develop and own a coherent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) discovery strategy aligned with organizational goals, focusing on high-burden diseases and areas of greatest patient and public health impact.

• Design and execute innovative research plans to identify and validate novel drug targets, hit/lead series, or biological modalities for NTDs.

• Integrate human and pathogen biology, pharmacology, and translational considerations to inform compound or modality design and selection.

• Prioritize opportunities and make data-driven go/no-go recommendations to advance, redirect, or terminate projects within the NTD portfolio.

• Provide strategic portfolio leadership across multiple programs, including long-range planning, risk/benefit assessment, and resource allocation recommendations.

Experimental and Technical Excellence

• Demonstrate an excellent understanding of the steps associated with drug discovery and path into early clinical development.

• Lead the design, execution, and interpretation of in vitro and/or in vivo studies to support target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, and candidate optimization.

• Establish or optimize relevant models (e.g., cellular, biochemical, parasite/ pathogen models, animal disease models) and associated readouts.

• Ensure scientific rigor, reproducibility, and data quality through appropriate controls, statistical analysis, and documentation.

Collaboration and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Work closely with medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, DMPK, clinical, safety, and other partners to shape and deliver integrated discovery plans.

• Collaborate with global health organizations, academic groups, NGOs, and consortia to access unique expertise, models, and funding.

• Contribute to and/or lead cross-functional project teams, ensuring clear communication of objectives, timelines, data, and decision points.

• Lead or co-lead project teams or working groups; influence broader discovery or global health strategy beyond direct projects.

External Engagement and Visibility

• Maintain deep awareness of the external NTD landscape, including epidemiology, biology, competitive intelligence, and technological advances.

• Identify, evaluate, and help establish external collaborations, academic partnerships, and consortia relevant to NTD discovery.

• Present research at internal governance meetings and external scientific conferences; publish impactful findings in peer-reviewed journals.

• Serve as a recognized internal expert in NTD discovery and represent the organization in external scientific and stakeholder forums.

Leadership, Mentoring, and Culture

• Provide scientific guidance and day-to-day leadership for junior scientists and research associates; foster a culture of curiosity, rigor, and accountability.

• Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and learning-oriented environment across sites and disciplines.

• Act as a scientific role model and thought leader, mentoring others in portfolio-thinking, strategic decision-making, and stakeholder management.

Education:

• PhD in Microbiology, Chemistry, Infectious Diseases, Molecular/Cell Biology, or a related discipline

Required Experience and Skills:

• 10+ years of relevant experience with demonstrated success in leading discovery projects or portfolios.

• strong research experience in infectious diseases or global health favorable.

• Strong strategic and systems thinking: ability to connect molecular mechanisms to disease burden, clinical context, and global health impact.

• Proven ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary, matrixed environments and across cultural and geographic boundaries.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to scientific, strategic, and non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to drive projects forward, manage multiple priorities, and meet timelines in the face of uncertainty.

• Evidence of scientific leadership (e.g., leading project teams, shaping portfolio strategy, key authorships, invited talks, or recognized expertise).

Success Measures:

• Advancement of NTD discovery projects through key milestones (e.g., validated targets, high-quality leads, development candidates).

• Establishment of a differentiated, high-impact NTD portfolio aligned with organizational priorities and external needs.

• High-quality scientific output and external visibility (publications, presentations, collaborations).

• Effective cross-functional and external partnerships leading to measurable acceleration or de-risking of programs.

• Positive feedback from team members and stakeholders on leadership, collaboration, and scientific rigor.

Location and Travel:

• Primary location: West Point, PA.

• Occasional travel may be required for collaboration meetings, field or clinical partner visits, and scientific conferences.

Required Skills:

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Drug Discovery Process, External Collaboration, Funding, Innovation, Mentorship, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Pathogens, Scientific Leadership, Strategic

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$231,900.00 - $365,000.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, 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. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

04/6/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.