Medicinal Chemist Associate – Drug Discovery Focus, Top Salary

About the Company

Merck & Co., Inc. (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) is a leading global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, we are at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world, including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and animal diseases.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Medicinal Chemist Associate to join our dynamic Drug Discovery team in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The successful candidate will play a critical role in the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel small molecules for various therapeutic targets. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to the discovery and development of innovative medicines, working within a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. You will be instrumental in advancing lead compounds through various stages of drug discovery, from hit-to-lead to lead optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step organic syntheses of target molecules with a focus on medicinal chemistry principles.
• Purify and characterize synthesized compounds using standard analytical techniques (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC).
• Analyze SAR data, interpret biological results, and propose new synthetic targets to optimize compound properties.
• Maintain accurate records of experimental procedures, results, and analyses in electronic laboratory notebooks.
• Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams including biologists, pharmacologists, and computational chemists.
• Contribute to the identification and validation of new drug targets and therapeutic hypotheses.
• Present research findings to internal and external scientific groups.

Required Skills

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related discipline, OR a Master's degree with 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in modern organic synthesis and reaction mechanisms.
• Proficiency in purification techniques (e.g., flash chromatography, preparative HPLC) and analytical methods (e.g., NMR, LC-MS).
• Solid understanding of medicinal chemistry principles, including structure-activity relationships (SAR) and drug metabolism.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postdoctoral experience in medicinal chemistry or drug discovery.
• Experience with computational chemistry tools (e.g., molecular modeling, docking) to aid compound design.
• Knowledge of drug discovery processes from hit identification to lead optimization.
• Familiarity with intellectual property and patent literature related to medicinal chemistry.
• Prior experience working in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry setting.

Perks & Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
• Employee stock purchase program.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities.
• On-site fitness centers and wellness programs.
• Employee assistance program.
• Competitive base salary with performance-based bonuses.

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