Postdoctoral Research Fellow CRISPR Screening in Neurodegeneration and Aging Research Date:Jan 4, 2019 Location:West Point, PA, US -Requisition ID:POS000285 Merck & Co., Inc. Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. known as Merck in the United States and Canada, is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where Merck has codified itslegacy for over a century. Mercks success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare. Merck is on a quest for cures and is committed to being the worlds premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Today, were doubling down on this goal. Merck Research Laboratories is a true scientific research facility of tomorrow, and will take Mercks leading discovery capabilities and world-class small molecule and biologics R&D expertise to create breakthrough science that radically changes the way we approach serious diseases. Be a part of the legacy: MRL Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program. The Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) 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. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Neurogenetics team of Merck Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, you will work with a highly collaborative team of scientists from neuroscience basic research, pharmacology, and genetics to employ genome-wide CRISPR screening to identify genes that influence/modulate pathways that have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases through genetics, and determine if any can be used directly as drug targets for disease-modification therapeutics. The fellow will also conduct follow-up on candidate hits to both validate and characterize the biology of the gene, and its relationship to disease pathophysiology. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: -Development of in vitro assays with reproducible, precise, and measureable readouts that are amenable to genome-wide or assayed CRISPR screening -Follow-up on genetic hits in cell culture to determine gene function and possible mechanisms of pathophysiology -Collaborating with Merck and external scientists for both experimental design and analysis -Data interpretation, manuscript preparation, publication and presentation of results -Contribute to a safe and compliant laboratory work environmentmrlpostdoc Qualifications Education Minimum Requirement: -A PhD with less than (3) years of postdoctoral experience OR graduating with a PhD by summer of 2019.Required Experience and Skills: -Strong in vitro biology techniques including primary and recombinant cell culture, flow cytometry. -Experience in molecular biological techniques, including CRISPR, cloning, sequencing, transfection, siRNA. -Standard cell biological techniques, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and imaging techniques.Preferred Experience and Skills: -Experience in characterizing cellular pathology, protein aggregation, organelle function. -Disease area knowledge in neurodegeneration. -Knowledge of mitochondrial assays interrogating function, activity, mitophagy, etc. -Experience culturing or generating terminally differentiated iPSC cells. Your role at Merck is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and were counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At Merck, were inventing for life. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to -. Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully: Merck & Co., Inc. is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Merck via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Merck. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Merck as a result of the referral or through other means. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit: -Merck is an equal opportunity employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran proudly embracing diversity in all of its manifestations. Job:Post-Doctoral Fellow Other Locations: Employee Status:Regular Travel:No Number of Openings:1 Shift (if applicable):N/A Hazardous Materials: Company Trade Name:Merck Nearest Major Market:Philadelphia