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Merck Postdoc Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Be a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow ProgramOur Research Laboratories ... Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does ...

$71K - $113K/yr

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - (Associate Scientist) Be a part of a unique research experience with ... Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does ...

Senior Scientist, Biocatalysis

Rahway, NJ · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

D. or Postdoctoral Education in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Chemical ... Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does ...

$117K - $184K/yr

Minimum of 2-5 years of postdoctoral research or pharmaceutical/biotech industry experience ... Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does ...

Senior Scientist, Biocatalysis

Rahway, NJ · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

D. or Postdoctoral Education in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Chemical ... Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does ...

Merck Postdoc information

See salary details

$32.5K

$54.5K

$83K

How much do merck postdoc jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for merck postdoc in the United States is $54,462.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $57,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Merck Postdoc vs Merck Research Scientist?

AspectMerck PostdocMerck Research Scientist
Required CredentialsPhD or equivalent in relevant fieldMaster's or PhD in relevant field, often with industry experience
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic-style setting, focus on training and developmentIndustry research labs, product development, and applied research
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily academic and research institutions, including Merck's R&D divisionFull-time industry role within Merck, involved in ongoing projects and product pipelines

The Merck Postdoc position is typically a temporary research-focused role aimed at gaining experience and developing skills, often held by individuals with a PhD. In contrast, a Merck Research Scientist is a permanent industry role involving active participation in research projects, product development, and applying scientific expertise within Merck's commercial operations.

What is a Merck postdoc?

A Merck Postdoc is a postdoctoral researcher who conducts advanced scientific research at Merck, a leading global pharmaceutical company. These positions are designed for recent Ph.D. graduates seeking to gain further experience and training in their field, often focusing on drug discovery, development, or related biomedical sciences. Merck Postdocs work under the guidance of experienced scientists, contribute to innovative projects, and often collaborate with academic and industry partners. The goal is to provide an environment that fosters scientific growth and prepares researchers for successful careers in industry or academia.

What types of projects and collaborations can a Merck postdoc expect to be involved in during their fellowship?

As a Merck Postdoc, you can expect to work on innovative, cross-disciplinary research projects that align with Merck’s strategic areas, such as drug discovery, process development, or data science. Postdocs often collaborate closely with both internal teams—such as scientists, engineers, and clinical experts—and external academic or industry partners. This collaborative environment not only fosters professional growth but also provides exposure to the latest technologies and methodologies in pharmaceutical research. Additionally, postdocs are encouraged to present findings at conferences and contribute to publications, helping to build a strong professional network and portfolio.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Merck postdoc, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Merck Postdoc, you need a PhD in a relevant scientific field, strong research abilities, and a proven track record of peer-reviewed publications. Expertise with laboratory techniques, data analysis software (e.g., R, Python), and familiarity with industry-standard protocols are typically required. Excellent problem-solving skills, collaboration, and effective scientific communication help a postdoc stand out in cross-functional teams. These skills enable impactful research contributions, drive innovation, and support Merck's mission in advancing healthcare solutions.
More about Merck Postdoc jobs
What cities are hiring for Merck Postdoc jobs? Cities with the most Merck Postdoc job openings:
What states have the most Merck Postdoc jobs? States with the most job openings for Merck Postdoc jobs include:
Infographic showing various Merck Postdoc job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 90% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,462 per year, or $26.2 per hour.

Associate Scientist, Postdoctoral Fellow - AI in Infectious Disease Modeling

Merck & Co.

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Merck rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 51 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

43rd of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Job DescriptionBe a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow ProgramOur Research Laboratories' Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be a best-in-industry program for industrial postdoctoral researchers, designed to provide you with an academic focus in a commercial environment. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, postdoctoral researchers will be positioned to excel in an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery.-Position Overview:This position is in the vaccine modeling team of the Health Economic and Decision Sciences (HEDS) department withing Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences (BARDS) at our Research Laboratories. BARDS HEDS provides strategic and analytic modeling expertise to measure and quantify the value of our company's products.As part of an agile team, the fellow will develop and support a seamless mechanism of coordination and collaboration in a dynamic area of interdisciplinary research. Collaboration with modeling scientists, data scientists, IT partners, subject matter experts and strategically leveraging generative AI to automate model extraction and facilitate rapid, intelligent adaptation across diverse settings, this project will profoundly enhance model transparency, dramatically accelerate deployment, and improve consistency in global health decision-making. This innovative approach promises to transform the efficiency and impact of health economic evaluations in infectious disease preparedness and response.At BARDS, we value diversity and inclusion in our working environment where employees are enabled to develop and contribute.Responsibilities include but are not limited to:Reporting under a Senior Director within the Vaccines team within HEDS, the fellow is expected to:Build a robust corpus of health economic infectious disease models using AI-assisted systematic review techniques,Utilize advanced LLMs to precisely extract infectious disease model type, structure (states, transitions), and parameters (costs, utilities, probabilities),Implement an intelligent AI reasoning layer to evaluate consistency, completeness, and scientific validity across extracted models,Employ generative AI to propose new model structures, dynamically guided by disease-specific needs and prior evidence,Apply the developed pipeline to critical case studies (e.g., RSV vaccine modeling) and rigorously compare AI-generated models with existing approaches,Develop excellent working relationships within partner across our Research Laboratories; ensure effective cross-functional collaboration across teams,Collaborate externally and solicit input from appropriate stakeholders and adopt latest techniques from relevant published literature, andDisseminate key research findings/methodology via scientific presentations at congresses and publications in scientific journals.Education Minimum Requirement:--Candidates should currently hold a PhD OR will receive a PhD by start of employment in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a closely-related quantitative field.Required Experience and Skills:Previous experience with large language models (LLMs), natural language processing (NLP), or machine learning,Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++, with experience in model fitting, simulation, and data extraction workflows,Previous experience working on interdisciplinary research projects and/or working within interdisciplinary teams,Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize complex information in order to draw conclusions and make recommendations,Strong creative problem solving skills,Strong interpersonal, networking, presentation, and communication skills, andAbility to communicate effectively in English in both verbal and written formats.Preferred Experience and Skills:Experience in prompt engineering, fine-tuning, or evaluating large language models, andPrevious experience of health economic modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis for infectious disease.postdoctoralopportunitiesUnder New York City, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate's relevant skills, experience, and education.Expected salary range:$75,000.00-$86,000.00Available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. For Washington State Jobs, a summary of benefits is listed here.-Required Skills:Adaptability, Computer Science, Data Analysis, Generative AI, Global Health, Health Economics, Infectious Disease, Information Technology Consulting, Interdisciplinary Research, Large Language Models (LLMs), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Programming Languages, Prompt Engineering, Report Writing, Scientific Presentations, Scientific Writing, Statistical Analysis, Synthetic ChemistryPreferred 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:EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement• We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively.Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts 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: RegularRelocation:DomesticVISA Sponsorship:Yes Travel Requirements: 10%Flexible Work Arrangements:HybridShift:Not IndicatedValid Driving License:NoHazardous Material(s):n/aJob Posting End Date:08/15/2026 *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. Requisition ID:R402279 Salary: . Date posted: 07/18/2026

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