Senior Principal Scientist/in-vivo Pharmacology Lab Head (80-100%*)

Band

Level 5

 

Job Description Summary

Location: Basel, Switzerland
Full time, #LI-Onsite

Disease Area X, part of the Biomedical Research (BR) group at Novartis, is dedicated to advancing research on critical human organs, including the kidney, lung, and liver. We are seeking an experienced in vivo pharmacologist to join our interdisciplinary pharmacology team and help drive the development of novel medicines toward clinical application. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, executing, and implementing preclinical in vivo pharmacology strategies for drug discovery programs. You will lead a team of scientists in the conception, execution, and interpretation of in vivo and ex vivo studies that support new model development, target validation, and the progression of drug discovery projects. Additionally, you will collaborate closely with key matrixed functions within DAx and BR to ensure seamless advancement of drug discovery efforts and effective translation of scientific insights into clinical impact.

 

Job Description

Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as the in vivo pharmacology lead on drug discovery project teams and act as lab head, overseeing a team of laboratory research scientists.

• Define and drive the in vivo pharmacology strategy for drug discovery projects, guiding multi-disciplinary project teams toward key decision milestones.

• Lead the design, execution, and interpretation of in vivo and ex vivo rodent experiments to support a portfolio of drug discovery programs, including new target identification, validation, and discovery of in vivo target engagement biomarkers

• Guide and mentor research scientists within the pharmacology discipline, fostering their development and scientific growth.

• Contribute to due diligence activities, manage external research collaborations, and oversee outsourcing of in vivo studies.

• Communicate and report project and team strategies, scientific vision, and data to key stakeholders in a clear and compelling manner.

Essential Requirements - what you will bring to the role:

• Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. in pharmacology, biology, or a related field, with ideally at least 3 years of postdoctoral experience.

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in drug discovery, specifically in vivo preclinical research within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology sector.

• At least 3 years of proven expertise in leading high-performing in vivo pharmacology teams.

• Certifications required for conducting and supervising animal experiments (minimum LTK 2, or an equivalent FELASA Cat. C accredited course).

• Demonstrated expertise in leading preclinical animal model studies, including the design and execution of fit-for-purpose drug discovery in vivo flow charts (PK/PD, efficacy), and enabling deep mechanistic and pharmacological characterization of lead candidates.

• Strong preference for expertise in animal models of renal diseases and/or liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. Prior experience with ex-vivo rodent tissue molecular or biochemical assays is also preferred.

• Ability to effectively influence within a matrixed environment. Must be team-oriented, collaborative, and committed to mentoring and developing talent, while fostering a culture of curiosity, accountability, and scientific rigor.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; proficiency in German is desirable.

*Restrictions on flexible working arrangements may apply and will be discussed at interview if applicable

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

 

Skills Desired