Associate Principal Scientist, Immunology Discovery
Merck
September 12, 2026
Full-time
Remote friendly (San Diego, CA)
Worldwide
Clinical Research and Development
Role: Associate Principal Scientist leading translational discovery in immunology, inflammation, and autoimmunity. Responsibilities: design and perform experiments using primary immune cells, ex vivo patient samples, co-culture models, and tissue analyses; integrate multi-omics data to elucidate target biology and disease mechanisms; develop disease-relevant models; generate data packages for target prioritization and biomarker development; collaborate across discovery biology, translational medicine, and external partners; mentor junior scientists and promote scientific rigor. Qualifications: PhD with 5+ years, or Master's with 9+ years, or Bachelor's with 13+ years in immunology, cell biology, or related fields; strong expertise in immune-mediated diseases, experimental design, and data interpretation; experience with immune assays, tissue models, and translational platforms; effective cross-functional communication. Preferred: experience with inflammatory/autoimmune models, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, spatial biology, and supporting drug discovery from validation to early clinical development; familiarity with conditions like IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or asthma; track record leading external collaborations. HighValue: immunology, inflammation, autoimmunity, translational models, multi-omics, patient-derived tissues, early-stage drug development. WorkSetup: not specified, but likely hybrid/onsite given the research nature; travel ~10%.