Job Description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Metabolic Disease

Be a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program

Our 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:

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to fill a postdoctoral fellowship position in the Department of Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD) at our company's Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California. This is an exciting opportunity to conduct basic research in an industry setting while learning about drug discovery at a high caliber pharmaceutical company. The successful candidate will work in our state-of-the-art facilities, collaborate with scientists with different research backgrounds, and employ appropriate in vitro and in vivo techniques to investigate the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of metabolic disorders. This role offers the chance to contribute to significant scientific publications and presentations at conferences, while gaining valuable experience in contemporary drug discovery.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design, execute, and interpret innovative research studies addressing fundamental questions in obesity, metabolic disease, adipose biology, skeletal muscle biology, and related fields.
• Develop and drive an independent research project while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary research teams.
• Utilize and integrate molecular, cellular, physiological, and computational approaches to investigate disease mechanisms.
• Analyze complex datasets using appropriate statistical tools.
• Present research findings at internal scientific forums, external conferences, and in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Stay current with emerging scientific literature and identify novel opportunities for translational impact.

Education Minimum Requirement:   

• Ph.D. in Biology, Physiology, Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.  

Required Experience and Skills:  

• Demonstrated expertise in obesity, metabolic disease, diabetes, skeletal muscle biology, adipose tissue biology, or a related field.
• Strong record of scientific achievement, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
• Hands-on experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques, including cell culture, functional assays, and mechanistic studies.
• Experience designing, conducting, and interpreting animal studies.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including statistical analysis and data interpretation.
• Ability to work independently while also thriving in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

• Experience working with transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, single-cell or spatial omics datasets.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis tools (e.g., R, Python, Prism, or similar platforms).
• Experience applying advanced imaging, histology, or quantitative tissue phenotyping approaches.
• Demonstrated creativity and scientific independence in developing and executing research projects.

postdoctoralopportunities

PDA

Required Skills:

Academic Research, Academic Research, Adaptability, Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, Cell Culture Techniques, Computational Biology, Data Analysis, Disease Models, Exploratory Research, Immunoassays, Independent Research, In Vitro Research, In Vivo Models, In Vivo Mouse Models, Metabolism, Metabolomics, Molecular Biology, Musculoskeletal, Obesity, Omics, Programming Languages, Proteomics, Research Designs {+ 9 more}

Preferred Skills:

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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:

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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:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

10/3/2026

*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.