Principal Scientist II/Senior Principal Scientist, Modeling & Simulation (Dual Level Posting)

Band

Level 4

 

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid
Internal Title: Principal Scientist II or Senior Principal Scientist
Location: Cambridge, MA

Novartis is a leader in neuroscience and cardiovascular disease areas with a robust and diverse pipeline of innovative therapies. We are seeking a translational modeler eager to accelerate oligonucleotide therapeutics (xRNA”), including antibody-xRNA conjugates, from discovery through clinical translation. In this role, you will partner with multi-disciplinary discovery and preclinical teams to develop and apply model-informed approaches that shape program strategies. As part of a truly translational modeling team, you will also work closely with clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics groups to support clinical programs, applying quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) and mechanistic PBPK/PD approaches to inform key decisions from early dose optimization through life-cycle management.

This role reports to a Modeling and Simulation (M&S) team lead within the Pharmacokinetic Sciences (PKS) M&S team.

 

Job Description

Key responsibilities:

 

•       Act as the M&S representative on several programs. Develop and execute modeling strategies, contribute to project team discussions, and guide model-informed decisions from therapeutic design to first-in-human dose selection and beyond. 

•       Build and apply mechanistic models (PK/PD, QSP, and PBPK/PD) that link drug pharmacology, tissue biodistribution, mechanism(s) of action, and downstream effects.

•       Integrate modeling into the design and interpretation of preclinical in vivo and in vitro studies to support candidate selection, optimization, and advancement towards the clinic.

•       Collaboratively develop platform disease (QSP) and PBPK/PD models that extend across multiple projects and phases of discovery & development.

•       Engage in strategic initiatives within M&S, such as creating platform-level translational modeling strategies to impact across projects and developing modeling workflows (e.g., agentic AI).

•       Proactively seek opportunities to increase the understanding and adoption of translational modeling among internal partners and expand the impact and visibility of modeling through external collaborations.

 

Essential requirements

 

·       Ph.D. in biology, bioengineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biophysics, or a related field and 3+ years of industry experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility. Master’s degree with 5+ years of industry experience and demonstrated impact will be considered.

·       General Modeling Skills: Expert level proficiency in core modeling fundamentals is required, including scripting languages (e.g., MATLAB, R), construction of ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, parameter estimation, and data visualization.

·       Industry Modeling Skills: Proficiency in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), and/or mechanistic physiologically based PK/PD (PBPK/PD) is required. Proficiency in pharmacometrics concepts (Population PK, exposure-response modeling) is preferred.

·       Domain Expertise: Prior experience with the integration of computational modeling and biological concepts is required. Experience modeling in the neuroscience and/or cardiovascular disease areas is preferred but not strictly required. Experience with oligonucleotide therapeutics (siRNA, ASO, PMO, etc.) and/or related experience with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is strongly preferred.

·       Collaboration and Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate modeling results to a multidisciplinary audience for collaborative work and/or to facilitate strategy and decision-making. Fluent in English (oral and written). 

 

This is a hybrid role that requires a balance of in-person and virtual working, with an average of 12 days a month on site in Cambridge, MA.

Candidates with demonstrated impact as a model