Principal Scientist

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for developing, planning, and executing research and product development projects for various disciplines within the clinical and life sciences fields. The incumbent will be responsible for designing and executing experiments and analyzing data to further product development and research goals. This position assists in identifying and implementing departmental initiatives and strategies. This position will supervise the work of others directly and/or across interdisciplinary teams.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develops, designs, and executes complex experiments to support research, feasibility, and product development and qualification efforts.   

• Provides input to the management team to identify, develop, and execute departmental initiatives and strategies. 

• Leads technical team(s) to accomplish project goals and manages/coordinates work of other team members. 

• Prepares/oversees preparation of experimental procedures, maintains laboratory notebooks and prepares procedures, batch/test records to support product development and research efforts. 

• Provides oversight and/or analyzes data using appropriate software, including statistical analyses, and prepares tables/graphs to highlight findings.     

• Presents findings/analyses and any associated issues/solutions to peer groups and managers; makes recommendations for project advancement.

• Troubleshoots and optimizes experiments; communicates issues and solutions to managers. 

• Performs literature and market research on new research or product areas and makes recommendations to management team on potential new ideas/trends to pursue.

• Procures reagents and equipment needed to perform experiments.

• Establishes and monitors direct report performance and development goals, assigns accountabilities, sets objectives, establishes priorities, and provides continuous feedback and recognition on performance.   

• Works with management team to identify and develop high performers within the department/business unit.

• Prepares and/or oversees preparation of invention disclosures, patent applications, grant proposals, posters and papers.

• Leads cross-functional initiatives with other business units on projects/products or associated deliverables. 

• Understands, follows and enforces laboratory safety precautions to ensure compliance with company safety policies.  

• Specific duties may vary depending upon departmental requirements.

 

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Life Sciences, Engineering or related field. 

• Minimum of 8 years hands-on laboratory experience. Two years of supervisory/management experience.

• Minimum of 4 years of immunoassay development experience in an industrial environment required.

• A strong publication record is desired.

• Experience in analyzing complex datasets required.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Superior scientific fundamentals and analytical background.

• Training and experience with BSL-2 techniques. 

• Expert problem solving skills and demonstrated ability to organize and move project tasks forward in an orderly and structured fashion.

• Strong analytical skills with the demonstrated ability to gather and evaluate complex data and information and develop a recommendation and plan of action.

• Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills required, with the ability to manage multiple and often changing priorities and issues of varying complexity while meeting time-sensitive deadlines and deliverables. 

• Solid leadership skills with demonstrated knowledge and understanding of staff management practices and processes. Ability to establish accountabilities and expectations and manage performance to achieve results.

• Demonstrated propensity to be creative, collaborative, proactive, and self-motivated in the execution and completion of assigned tasks.

• Exceptional communication (written and verbal) skills regardless of the format (e.g., documents, public speaking situations, presentations, etc.).  

• Attention to detail with demonstrated commitment to excellence and performance.

• Proven proficiency with Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).  

• Expertise in GraphPad Prism, MS Excel and SharePoint required. 

• Advanced knowledge in Statistics required. 

• Excellent knowledge of MSD’s technology and processes. Good understanding of competing technologies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the individual is frequently required to sit and stand for long periods. The individual is occasionally required to walk; use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands a