Principal Scientist – Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular

MSD

. Lead early clinical development strategy for novel therapy programs from Preclinical Candidate approval through Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical Proof-of-Concept .

Posted 9/16/2026full-timeBoston • California • United StatesLead💰 $260,300 - $409,700 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading early clinical development strategies and executing clinical pharmacology studies, with a strong focus on biomarker validation and cross-functional collaboration. Proven ability to communicate complex study results effectively to diverse stakeholders.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Clinical Development StrategyBiomarker ValidationClinical PharmacologyTranslational MedicineClinical Trials

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Clinical ResearchExperimental MedicinePharmacology ExperimentsTarget ValidationImaging BiomarkersElectrophysiological BiomarkersBehavioral BiomarkersScientific ScholarshipPublicationsPresentations

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsWriting SkillsPresentation SkillsTeam Collaboration

Tools & Technologies

BiostatisticsDrug MetabolismModeling and SimulationRegulatory Affairs

Certifications & Qualifications

MDMD/PhDClinical Board Certification

Industry Keywords

CardiologyCardiovascular MedicineNephrologyTranslational ResearchClinical Problem-Solving

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead early clinical development strategy for novel therapy programs from Preclinical Candidate approval through Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical Proof-of-Concept
Develop biomarker strategies through cross-functional teams from First-in-Human studies through clinical Proof-of-Concept
Conduct Experimental Medicine studies to establish or validate biomarker platforms
Partner with discovery research teams to contribute a clinical perspective to target identification and validation
Execute clinical studies evaluating potential targets and their relevance to human disease
Develop and execute clinical pharmacology strategies from Phase 2 through worldwide marketing application
Provide leadership as a key member of early development teams
Author clinical and biomarker plans for Lead Optimization programs, Preclinical Candidate molecules, and Phase I–IV clinical pharmacology studies
Develop and execute studies validating clinical platforms using imaging, electrophysiological, and behavioral biomarkers
Design preclinical and/or clinical pharmacology experiments to validate targets and pathways
Safely and timely execute Phase I studies
Collaborate with internal and external clinical study support staff and scientists across discovery research, biostatistics, drug metabolism, modeling and simulation, regulatory affairs, and global clinical trials operations
Provide clinical pharmacology support through worldwide marketing application filing, including registration documents and presentations
Communicate and interpret study results to therapeutic area governance, functional area experts, and development review committees
Assess internal and external opportunities identified by Business Development and Licensing
Interface with Discovery Sciences, Preclinical Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toxicology, Translational Biomarkers, Translational Medicine Operations, Translational Medicine-EU, Drug Metabolism/Modeling & Simulation, Regulatory Affairs, and late-stage Clinical Research teams worldwide

Requirements

What you’ll need

MD or MD/PhD
Proven track record in clinical medicine or clinical research
Background in biomedical research
Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement, including publications or presentations
Strong interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills
Ability to function in a team environment
Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Clinical Trials, Nephrology, Scientific Research, Translational Medicine, and Translational Research
Clinical Board Certification or Eligibility preferred
Subspecialty clinical and research experience in Cardiology or a related subspecialty preferred but not required
Prior experience in translational research and/or early clinical development preferred but not required
Proven track record in clinical care of patient populations or management of clinical problem-solving
Must be a US or Puerto Rico resident
No visa sponsorship available

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