Job Description
Do you aspire to help our Company’s AH division to become the world’s best animal health company – while unleashing your own full potential? Are you the person with knowledge and experience in bioanalytical methods, laboratory operations and laboratory quality systems? Then you could be our new Senior Scientist, Aqua Research ensuring worldwide supply of our vaccines to the growing salmon aquaculture industry.
THE OPPORTUNITY: We’re looking for a Senior Scientist to join our team in our Aqua Research and Development Division of our company's Animal Health Innovation team, located in Bergen, Norway. This position is initially connected to a certain project for development of new potency assays but will also be involved in maintaining already developed assays. In this role, you will report to the Bacteriology research section leader.
WHAT YOU WILL DO: You will plan, conduct, and document analytical method development, with a primary focus on ELISA, as well as in vivo fish trials and other laboratory analyses as needed. The main responsibility is to develop quantitative and qualitative antigenic mass and potency assays in a team of multiple company departments to support the transition to in vitro testing.
You will take part in general laboratory operations, maintenance, and staff training, ensure compliance and work within Company Quality systems (GMP/GLP when requested) and Regulatory guidelines, contribute to development and maintenance of company Quality and SHE program/systems, propose where possible improvements to facilitate or expedite the overall activities and contribute to the overall efficiencies within the R&D site. As a project team member, you will contribute to project discussions within R&D; organize, perform and report within deadline on agreed project tasks and write and revise laboratory procedures (SOPs).
Collaboration, both locally and internationally, will be a key part of your role. You will work closely with project leaders, laboratory colleagues and cross-functional teams across our global sites, as well as with external partners such as universities and governmental research institutes. This will give you broad exposure to scientific expertise and projects across our international network.
WHAT YOU MUST HAVE
• University degree (Master with extensive lab experience, PhD) in a relevant field (i.e. molecular biology, biochemistry, virology or bacteriology) from accredited university or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years of experience and good knowledge of common techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology
• Experience in developing ELISA assays is mandatory, experience in validating is seen as a strong advantage
• Ability to work independently: setup, plan and conduct experiments
• Knowledge of principles of vaccine development
• Experience with QC procedures and guidelines is a plus
• Experience working with animal models, especially Atlantic salmon, is advantageous
• Proficiency in using computerized systems, data management tools and Microsoft office (MS Excel, Word)
• Organized personality and structured work capability
• Strong teamwork skills and problem-solving mindset with abilities to work autonomously
• Fluent in both Norwegian and English
• Strong skills to write autonomously (in English) high-quality experimental study protocols and reports and write and revise laboratory procedures (SOPs)
Our Animal Health division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to the health and well-being of animals. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive difference within animal care, the world’s food supply and have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society and our planet. We offer one of our industry’s most innovative portfolio of products, services and technologies that serve to prevent, treat, and control diseases across all major farm and companion animal species.
Interested in joining us? Please apply online. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Additional location(s) Compensation Information:
Required Skills: Analytical Assays, Analytical Assays, Analytical Thinking, Animal Health Care, Assay Development, Automated Liquid Handling Systems, Bacteriology, Bioanalytical Method Development, Bioanalytical Techniques, Biochemistry, Clinical Judgment, Data Analysis, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Experimentation, Flow Cytometry, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), In Vitro Research, Laboratory Analysis, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Protocols, Microbiology, Microsoft Office, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Techniques, Office Systems {+ 6 more} Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date: 12/4/2026*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.