Principal Scientist, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Area (CVM)

Job Description

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women. The Cardiovascular and Metabolic (CVM) Disease Area at NIBR in Cambridge, Massachusetts is committed to discovering transformative medicines to treat cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. We are seeking a highly motivated scientist who can join our Metabolic disease team to work at the bench and lead exploratory efforts (target discovery and validation) as well as drug development projects that contribute to the science and treatment of Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease.

What you will be doing:

•Initially, the successful candidate will spend most of the time thinking about skeletal muscle energy expenditure, generating hypotheses and testing them in the lab (bench work is initially part of the expectation). The project(s) will be in the field of Metabolic Diseases (obesity) and range from target concept to IND-enabling studies.
•Most of the candidate’s efforts will be in applying cell biological and biochemical methods. Enthusiasm for studying the effects of low molecular weight drugs, peptides, antibodies, and especially siRNA is important.
•With time and experience, the candidate will lead project teams and productively collaborate across the Novartis research organization in the many disciplines re-quired for drug development (medicinal chemistry, biologics development, safe-ty, etc.) as well as recognize and leverage external collaboration opportunities that amplify the Department’s research.
•In time the candidate is expected to develop expertise in the any of the fields of Heart Failure, Atherosclerosis, Arrhythmia, or Metabolic Disease. Prior experience in one of these areas is a plus but is not required.
•Learn from other members in the Department, and mentor other less experienced bench scientists. The ability and interest to interact with and assist others is vital.
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills are necessary.

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $102,400.00 and $169,200.00 per year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Diversity & Inclusion / EEO

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Minimum Requirements

What you will bring to the role:
•Ability to successfully contribute to, and eventually lead, high-functioning re-search teams
•Ability to independently conceive ideas and reduce complex scientific concepts into practical plans for experiments that allow data-based decision-making in a timely fashion
•Ability to clearly communicate with and provide advice to leaders, peers, and junior colleagues
•PhD or MS degree plus 1-5 years of experience in any area of biological science relevant to drug development (ex. Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Animal Pharmacology).
•Accomplishment during academic training as demonstrated by first or last author high-quality peer-reviewed publications is a must.
•Experience with several cell biological systems (examples may include skeletal muscle cells lines as well as primary cell culture; genetic manipulation such as siRNA, shRNA, CRISPR, AAV; analysis by various methods of assaying biological activity of interest, such as GPCR and other receptor-mediated signaling, ion fluxes, other functional assays). Molecular bi-ology and biochemistry are a plus.
•A history of following the literature in a relevant field and interaction with colleagues out of the home institution (for example through presentations) is essential.
•The capacity to quickly grasp new concepts, findings and techniques and focus on detail.
•Basic computational data analyses skills.
•Demonstrated excellent communication skills and creative problem-solving capabilities, aptitude for working in a collaborative team-oriented environment.

Why Novartis?
766 million lives were touched by Novartis medicines in 2021, and while we’re proud of this, we know there is so much more we could do to help improve and extend people’s lives.

We believe new insights, perspectives and ground-breaking solutions can be found at the intersection of medical science and digital innovation. That a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment inspires new ways of working.

We believe our potential can thrive and grow in an unbossed culture underpinned by integrity, curiosity and flexibility. And we can reinvent what's possible, when we collaborate with courage to aggressively and ambitiously tackle the world’s toughest medical challenges. Because the greatest risk in life, is the risk of never trying!

Imagine what you could do here at Novartis!

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations: Individuals in need of a reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition or disability for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network