Director, Translational PK/PD, PBPK Modeling

MSD

Scientific Director managing Translational PK/PD modeling for drug discovery at a global healthcare leader. Leading cross-functional teams and mentoring junior scientists in a hybrid setting.

Posted 5/8/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $190,800 - $300,300 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

serve as expert PK/PD modeler in cross-functional teams, to make model-informed decisions about drug discovery, modality selection, and dose prediction across therapeutic areas
integrate in vitro and in vivo data to build PBPK, quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), or other mechanistic modeling platforms of drug disposition and pharmacology, to support forward / reverse translation for both established and novel therapeutic targets
guide software developers in the design of automated workflows for implementing modeling platforms, to inform human PK/PD and dose projections
collaborate across the PDMB organization to develop modeling and simulation strategies to identify and optimize drug candidates
provide scientific guidance and cross-functional supervision to a team of growing scientists
mentor / supervise junior colleagues to perform the above duties and to grow the above capabilities

Requirements

What you’ll need

(Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics / Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Systems Pharmacology / Quantitative Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering / Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Mathematics / Mathematical Biology, Biostatistics / Statistics, Computational Biology / Systems Biology, Biophysics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Toxicology or equivalent with ≥ 7 years experience) or (PharmD or equivalent with ≥ 9 years experience) or (MS or equivalent with ≥ 11 years experience)
experience means a record of increasing responsibility and independence in drug discovery / development, within industry, academia, regulatory, or non-profit settings
experience performing hands-on translational PKPD and PBPK modeling using standard modeling software (e.g., Matlab / SimBiology, OSP Suite, Simcyp, Gastroplus, Monolix, R), for discovery / development of biologics, protein therapeutics, and/or peptides
expert skills in mathematical problem solving, critical data analysis / interpretation, experimental design, and statistics

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical
dental
vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
retirement benefits, including 401(k)
paid holidays
vacation
compassionate and sick days

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

PK/PD modelingPBPK modelingquantitative systems pharmacologymathematical problem solvingdata analysisexperimental designstatistics

Soft Skills

scientific guidancecross-functional supervisionmentoringcollaboration

Certifications

Ph.D. in PharmaceuticsPh.D. in Pharmaceutical SciencesPh.D. in PharmacokineticsPh.D. in PharmacologyPh.D. in Systems PharmacologyPh.D. in Biomedical EngineeringPh.D. in BioengineeringPh.D. in Chemical EngineeringPh.D. in Applied MathematicsPh.D. in Biostatistics