Principal Scientist - Biomarker Discovery & Qualification

About the Department                                                                                                                                              
Our US Research & Development hub, located in the Greater Boston area, brings together the best talent to drive life science innovation. Located in Lexington, Watertown and Cambridge, our teams reflect the full scope of R&D, from early research through late-stage clinical development. We are building for the future by creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. By combining the speed and agility of biotech with the quality, resources, and stability of a large pharmaceutical company, our US R&D hub will benefit from the best of both worlds to develop new medicines that meet the needs of patients. 

 

The Position

Translational Research, part of Global Translation (GT), is establishing its presence in Greater Boston area with the purpose of identifying, qualifying and quantifying target engagement (TE), proof-of-mechanism (PoM) and disease modulation (DM) biomarkers to guide decision-making in R&ED. At the Biomarker Discovery & Qualification (BDQ) department within Translational Research, we employ human in vitro / ex vivo systems and in vivo animal models as well as apply omics technologies to generate high-quality biomarker data. To leverage and complement the existing expertise in advanced cellular models for biomarker discovery, the role will be embedded within the Microphysiological Systems (MPS) department in Boston while seamlessly integrating with BDQ team in Måløv, Denmark, enabling a strong, close-knit collaboration between the two sites. 
 
The Principal Scientist will be part of a highly ambitious multidisciplinary team dedicated to identifying and qualifying TE-,PoM- and DM biomarkers by utilizing the MPS platforms and cutting-edge omics technologies. Collaborating closely with scientists across global R&ED organization, the individual will drive the experimental biomarker discovery and qualification efforts while implementing new models and technological platforms for biomarker research. In addition, the job entails leading multiple research projects concurrently and responsible for project planning, execution, and delivery, including defining project goals and timelines. Moreover, the role requires active engagement with internal and external stakeholders, along with leadership in forging strategic partnerships in the biomarker field.

 

Relationship

The Principal Scientist will report to the head of the Biomarker Discovery & Qualification (BDQ) department at Novo Nordisk in Greater Copenhagen (Måløv), Denmark.

Internal relationships include working closely with technical staff and scientists within the MPS department as well as with the head of BDQ. Moreover, the individual will work closely with translational teams in Global Translation and with the cardiometabolic therapeutic areas across the Research & Early Development (R&ED) organization. 

The Principal Scientist will have significant interaction with external research collaborators both academia- & industry.
 
The individual may supervise and mentor less experienced team members. This position is an individual contributor and will not have direct reports 

 

Essential Functions

• Develop experimental strategies to identify and qualify biomarkers associated with treatment response and disease modulation
• Lead biomarker discovery campaigns employing advanced methodologies and technologies
• Contribute to the development of novel cellular models (e.g. Organoids, Spheroids, MPS, iPSCs, Precision-cut tissue slices) and in vivo disease models for biomarker discovery and qualification
• Utilize high-throughput platforms to profile Target Engagement (TE), Proof-of-Mechanism (PoM), and disease modulation biomarkers
• Analyze and interpret complex biological data sets using artificial intelligence GUI and primary bioinformatics tools to extract meaningful ins