Associate Principal Scientist | Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job Description

Are you passionate about revolutionizing drug delivery and shaping the future of pharmaceutical sciences? Join our dynamic and multidisciplinary research group that is at the forefront of drug discovery and development. Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) is a multidisciplinary research group that enables drug discovery and drug product development through application of pharmaceutical science to drug delivery research from target identification through clinical candidate selection for both small and large molecules as well as vaccines. DPS influences molecular design of these clinical candidates through physicochemical property profiling and application of insights to better understand and resolve drug product developability risks. Our deliverables include identification of oral and parenteral preclinical formulations for pharmacology and toxicology studies across modalities (small molecules, peptides, biologics, and vaccines). We closely collaborate with other key functions required for selection and progression of clinical candidates, including Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Safety, Process Research, Vaccine Development, Analytical Research, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. In aggregate, our team enables the transition of optimized molecules from discovery to clinical formulation development with clinical formulation strategies in place.

Primary Responsibilities

DPS in West Point, PA is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to join our team. This position requires understanding of formulation development, process development and a track record of successful contributions to drug product development. The candidate should have a creative passion for identifying and applying effective drug delivery technologies and pharmaceutics methods as well as a history of driving results and rapidly progressing ideas from conception to in vitro/in vivo evaluation.

In this role the candidate will:  

• Work as part of a team focused on the discovery of novel therapeutics through support of molecular profiling, de-risking strategies, and collaborate effectively within and across functional areas.

• Design and execute physicochemical characterization and formulation development across modalities for preclinical and first-in-human studies.

• Identify and champion impactful pipeline-driven innovations to solve unique Discovery program challenges of delivery of small molecules and vaccines.

• Direct and advocate for innovative drug delivery technologies, deploying them to pipeline assets.

• Perform technical data analysis and drive communications both verbally and through written documents and reports, to the local team, across functions, and external to our Company.

• Actively explore external opportunities (academia and industry) to engage innovative technologies related to drug delivery and pharmaceutics.

• Enhance our external collaboration network (academia and industry) and guiding our scientific presence externally through publication, patents, and conferences.

Education

• Ph.D. with 4 years of experience or B.S. or M.S. with 10 years of relevant industrial experience in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering or related discipline or relevant industry experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Experience in leading formulation development, driving innovative research in characterization and product development of small molecules, peptides, proteins, or vaccines.

• Demonstrated experience solving discovery and early development program challenges by leveraging strong scientific fundamentals in related subject areas including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biopharmaceutics, process development, or engineering.

• Strong leadership/inter-personal skills and motivation to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.

• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute and lead complex experiments and data analysis.

• Track record of working effectively with team-members of diverse skill sets and backgrounds.

• Excellent communication skills with ability to present scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Strong background in drug discovery and development with expertise in formulation and delivery systems.

• Product development across mixed modalities and routes of administration

• Experience leading development projects at an enterprise level.

• Capable of mentoring individuals in a peer-to-peer fashion and as a technical mentor.

• Advanced com