Principal Scientist, Translational Clinical Biomarkers

MSD

. Provide strategic and scientific biomarker leadership across Cardiovascular & Metabolic and Infectious Diseases/Vaccines portfolios .

Posted 9/16/2026full-timeUpper Gwynedd • California • United StatesLead💰 $190,800 - $300,300 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in developing and executing translational and clinical biomarker strategies across cardiovascular, metabolic, and infectious disease portfolios, with a strong focus on integrating scientific rigor and decision-centric approaches. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and translate complex datasets into actionable insights for clinical development.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Ph.D. Or M.D. In Relevant Scientific DisciplineTranslational Medicine ExpertiseBiomarker Strategy DevelopmentCross-Functional LeadershipAnalytical And Problem-Solving Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

BiomarkersTranslational MedicineClinical DevelopmentPharmacodynamicsData TranslationClinical Study DesignImmuno-OncologyPatient StratificationPredictive Biomarker StrategiesPrognostic Biomarker Strategies

Soft Skills

Excellent Written And Verbal Communication SkillsStrategic ThinkingMentorship And Scientific Direction

Tools & Technologies

BiostatisticsBioinformaticsMultidimensional Biomarker Data Analysis

Industry Keywords

Cardiovascular DiseasesMetabolic DiseasesInfectious DiseasesVaccinesEthical ComplianceEthical StandardsPersonalized Medicine

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide strategic and scientific biomarker leadership across Cardiovascular & Metabolic and Infectious Diseases/Vaccines portfolios
Lead design, execution, analysis, and communication of translational and clinical biomarker strategies from early through late clinical development
Develop decision-centric biomarker strategies integrating therapeutic mechanism, disease biology, pharmacodynamics, patient heterogeneity, dose and regimen selection, clinical endpoints, and precision medicine opportunities
Develop and lead integrated biomarker strategies with cross-functional development teams
Translate disease biology and therapeutic mechanism into translational hypotheses and fit-for-purpose biomarker approaches
Define biomarker contributions to proof of biology, target engagement, dose and regimen selection, patient stratification, response assessment, and go/no-go decisions
Serve as biomarker representative on cross-functional program teams
Partner with Discovery, Clinical Development, Quantitative Sciences, Regulatory, Data Science, Clinical Operations, and other functions
Lead interpretation of biomarker and clinical datasets and translate findings into actionable recommendations
Identify disease heterogeneity, therapeutic response, resistance or non-response, and biological drivers of clinical outcomes
Develop infectious disease and vaccine biomarker strategies addressing host and pathogen biology, immune response, correlates of protection, pharmacodynamic response, and stratification
Develop cardiovascular and metabolic biomarker strategies addressing target engagement, pathway modulation, disease biology, pharmacodynamic response, patient heterogeneity, and biological/clinical outcome relationships
Evaluate emerging biomarker technologies and analytical approaches
Communicate strategies, results, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders
Provide scientific guidance and mentorship to biomarker scientists
Support publications, scientific presentations, external collaborations, and interactions with external experts

Requirements

What you’ll need

Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent advanced scientific degree with relevant experience in translational medicine, biomarker science, drug development, or a related discipline
Significant experience developing and executing translational or clinical biomarker strategies in drug or vaccine development
Scientific expertise in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, infectious diseases, vaccines, immunology, or related disciplines
Ability to translate scientific hypotheses into biomarker strategies informing clinical development decisions
Strong understanding of mechanism of action, disease biology, pharmacology, biomarkers, clinical endpoints, and development strategy
Ability to lead cross-functional scientific work in a matrixed environment and influence without direct authority
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including synthesizing complex datasets into decision-oriented conclusions
Ability to prioritize high-value, decision-enabling biomarker work
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Working knowledge of biostatistics, bioinformatics, quantitative sciences, and multidimensional biomarker data analysis
Strategic mindset focused on scientific rigor, prioritization, scalability, and actionable evidence
Experience supporting programs across multiple stages of clinical development preferred
Experience with pharmacodynamic, predictive, prognostic, patient-stratification, or precision-medicine biomarker strategies preferred
Experience in cardiovascular/metabolic drug development and/or infectious disease and vaccine development preferred
Experience across multiple programs or therapeutic areas preferred
Experience mentoring or providing scientific direction to other scientists preferred
Biomarkers
Cardiovascular Diseases
Clinical Development
Clinical Research
Clinical Study Design
Data Translation
Ethical Compliance
Ethical Standards
Immuno-Oncology
Mechanism of Action
Patient Care
Personalized Medicine
Pharmacodynamics
Scientific Presentations
Scientific Writing
Strategic Thinking
Translational Medicine
No visa sponsorship

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual bonus
Long-term incentive, if applicable
Medical, dental, and vision healthcare
Other insurance benefits for employee and family
Retirement benefits, including 401(k)
Paid holidays
Vacation
Compassionate days
Sick days
Hybrid work arrangement
Domestic relocation