✦ Luna Orbit — Science & Research

Associate Principal Scientist, Discovery Oncology

at Merck

📍 USA - Massachusetts - Boston (MA Parcel B Laboratory) Hybrid 💰 $144K – $227K USD / year Posted April 01, 2026
Salary $144K – $227K USD / year
Type Full-Time
Experience senior
Exp. Years 4+ years
Education PhD in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biophysics, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or related life sciences
Category Science & Research

Associate Principal Scientist leads discovery-stage oncology programs in Boston, guiding a small team to design robust assays and translate findings toward differentiated cancer therapies. The role emphasizes team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and high-impact scientific output.

  • Team lead: provide scientific and technical leadership to a small team
  • Lead cross-functional collaboration on discovery programs
  • Drive ideation and early-stage discovery efforts
  • Design and optimize in vitro and ex vivo assays
  • Communicate strategy and results to internal and external audiences

Deep expertise in tumor biology, cancer genomics, and a broad toolkit across molecular and cellular biology, with hands-on experience in diverse assay platforms and oncology drug discovery.

The ideal candidate is an experienced senior scientist with 4+ years in oncology drug discovery, strong leadership, and a track record of designing and executing in vitro/ex vivo assays in a biopharma setting.

PhD in Cancer Biology or related life sciences (or MS with extensive industry experience) and 4+ years of oncology drug discovery experienceStrong leadership and collaboration skillsExperience leading discovery-stage programs
Experience with cancer dependency databasesExperience with CRISPR-Cas based screeningPublications and scientific presence
Meso Scale DiscoveryELISAImmunoassaysCRISPR-Cas System
Assay DevelopmentBiochemical AssaysBiopharmaceuticalsCell-Based AssaysCell BiologyCompound ScreeningCRISPR-Cas SystemData AnalysisDrug Discovery ProcessELISA TechniquesEx Vivo AssaysGenomicsImmunoassaysImmunoblotsImmunologyIn Vitro AssaysMammalian Cell CultureMeso Scale DiscoveryMolecular BiologyOncologyResearch ProgramsStrategic ThinkingTarget Validation
Assay DevelopmentBiochemical AssaysBiopharmaceuticalsCell-Based AssaysCell BiologyCompound ScreeningCRISPR-Cas SystemData AnalysisDrug Discovery ProcessELISA TechniquesEx Vivo AssaysGenomicsImmunoassaysImmunoblotsImmunologyIn Vitro AssaysMammalian Cell CultureMeso Scale DiscoveryMolecular BiologyOncologyResearch ProgramsStrategic ThinkingTarget Validation
CommunicationCollaborationLeadershipPublications
Industry Healthcare & Medical
Job Function Provide scientific leadership and hands-on assay development for discovery-stage oncology programs.
Role Subtype Research Scientist
Associate Principal ScientistDiscovery Oncologyoncologydrug discoverytarget validationtumor biologycancer genomicsCRISPR-Cas SystemMammalian Cell CultureEx Vivo AssaysIn Vitro AssaysImmunoassaysImmunoblotsELISABiopharmaceuticalsBiologicsMeso Scale DiscoveryGenomicsResearch ProgramsCRISPR-Casin vitro assaysex vivo assaysmammalian cell cultureimmunoassaysbiopharmaceuticals

PhD required or equivalent high-level industry experience, Lack of oncology drug discovery experience

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