Senior Principal Scientist Veterinary Pathologist Board Certified
MSD
Summary
Our Company's Research Laboratories nonclinical drug safety department at West Point, Pennsylvania site is seeking an experienced anatomic pathologist to join a highly collaborative team of scientists (12 anatomic pathologists, 3 clinical pathologists, and approximately 40 exceptional laboratory scientists), working at a GLP-compliant facility with state-of-the-art anatomic, molecular and clinical pathology laboratories.
Job description
This role is intended for an accomplished Pathologist with proven toxicological pathology and drug development experience with preferably immunology and biologics expertise who operates as a recognized subject-matter expert and influences strategy from early discovery through late-stage development.
Key Responsibilities
- Employ both routine H&E evaluations as well as other specialized techniques to characterize the safety profile of new drugs from toxicology and investigative studies
- Work independently to analyze data, interpret and determine the significance of results for postmortem evaluations, review literature and design experiments to help teams solve scientific problems and advance programs
- Demonstrate scientific leadership with partnering broadly with toxicology, safety pharmacology, and translational teams to define mechanisms of toxicity, assess human relevance, and guide risk mitigation strategies for programs including immunology and biologics programs
- Utilize additional tools and applications available on-site, including in vitro and in vivo assay capabilities, historical controls slide archive and database, digital pathology, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, quantitative digital image analysis and targeted machine learning applications
- Contribute to developing novel biomarkers and predictive models to de-risk drug candidates for safety-related liabilities
- Serve as nonclinical drug safety department leads on drug development teams, overseeing the design and execution of studies, and generation of regulatory strategy and communications with global regulatory agencies
Required Experience and Skills
- 10+ years of experience as a veterinary pathologist
- 7+ years of drug development experience in biotech, pharma, or CRO settings
- Love to collaborate with diverse cross-functional teams and communicate openly and often with colleagues
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Residency in anatomic / toxicologic pathology
- ACVP, ECVP-board certification or equivalent in anatomic pathology
Preferred Experience and Skills
- Strong knowledge of drug discovery, development and regulatory processes, including experience on drug development project teams
- Experience in supporting immunology and biologics programs
- PhD in Immunology, Toxicology, Pathology, or related discipline
- Experience serving as pathology lead for programs, or external due diligence as lead or subject matter expertise
- Strong scientific leadership beyond individual studies, demonstrated growth and enterprise mindset, including cross-functional partnership, and cross-program influence and mentoring/management of other pathologists
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience as a veterinary pathologist
- 7+ years of drug development experience in biotech, pharma, or CRO settings
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Residency in anatomic / toxicologic pathology
- ACVP, ECVP-board certification or equivalent in anatomic pathology
- Love to collaborate with diverse cross-functional teams and communicate openly and often with colleagues
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Retirement benefits
- 401(k)
- Paid holidays
- Vacation
- Compassionate leave
- Sick days
Company overview
MSD, known as Merck Sharp & Dohme outside the United States and Canada, is a global research-intensive biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Founded in 1891, the company has established itself as one of the world's leading pharmaceutical corporations with a rich history spanning over 130 years. MSD operates as the international division of Merck & Co., Inc., focusing on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of innovative medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products. The company's extensive portfolio includes groundbreaking treatments in oncology, infectious diseases, cardiology, diabetes, and vaccines, with notable products such as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for cancer immunotherapy, Gardasil for HPV prevention, and Januvia for diabetes management. MSD maintains a strong commitment to research and development, investing significantly in scientific innovation to address unmet medical needs worldwide. With approximately 75,000 employees globally, the company operates through four main segments: pharmaceuticals, animal health, healthcare services, and strategic alliances. MSD's mission centers on using leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world, guided by the principle that medicine is for people, not profits.