Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, Neuromuscular Disease Therapeutics

Job Description Summary

We are thrilled to seek applications for our Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. This applied research program is designed to change the way we approach drug discovery. As a fellow, you will apply your skills to make a difference for patients as part of a multi-disciplinary team at Novartis. Seize this chance to be at the forefront of the future of drug discovery!

As part of the Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will join our vibrant, community of postdocs and scientists, to accelerate your scientific growth, and expand your professional skillset. You also may have the opportunity to do a Postdoc Practicum in another laboratory or in a business function of Novartis. This applied research program has a duration of 3 years.

 

Job Description

Internal Job Title: Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Location: onsite, Cambridge, MA

About the role:

In this role, you will be an integral member of our Discovery Sciences-Translational Profiling group and collaborate extensively with our Neuroscience as well as Cell and Gene Therapies teams in Cambridge, MA to pioneer innovative research on skeletal muscle biology in neuromuscular and metabolic disorders.  The successful candidate will integrate state-of-the-art technologies in super resolution imaging, ex vivo models and translational pharmacology to assess cell and gene therapeutics designed to treat skeletal muscle diseases. This role connects fundamental research with therapeutic innovation, providing an opportunity to contribute to advancements in the treatment of patients with neuromuscular diseases.

Through the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will build your competency as a drug hunter, and as a scientific leader in the field. You will join a professional network that will support your growth as a research scientist, and you will have the opportunity to tackle disease and make an impact, by reimagining medicine together.

Start date: October 2025

Key responsibilities

As an Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Work independently as well as with interdisciplinary team

• Perform independent and collaborative research across multiple teams to develop a platform to evaluate and characterize cell and gene therapeutics in the context of neuromuscular diseases.

• Perform independent research to develop novel therapeutics using viral vector design, production, and characterization, ex vivo tissue systems, animal models, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, and molecular potency assays.

• Design and optimize strategies for understanding and improving molecular mechanisms of therapeutic candidates.

• Collaborate with global cross-functional teams to advance candidates to treat neuromuscular diseases.

• Present results at internal and external scientific forums and conferences.

Role requirements:

• PhD in biology or a related field

• Note that PhD students in the last year of their thesis work are eligible to apply. Applicants are only eligible to apply up to 2 years from the date of receiving their PhD (i.e. PhD degrees must have been awarded May 2023 or later).

• Experience in confocal imaging, immunohistochemistry, tissue sectioning (preferred)

• Experience in molecular biology techniques, viral vector design and transduction, plasmid transfection, potency assays, and skeletal muscle biology (preferred)

• In vivo animal handling (desired)Excellent collaboration skills across matrix teams.

• Strong publication record or other scientific achievements (i.e., awards, patents, grants)

• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and organizational skills

• Passion for fundamental exploratory research and boundless curiosity

How to apply:

Please submit your CV and cover letter by September 1, 2025 for consideration. Please make sure to discuss in the cover letter how this training program will help you fulfill your career goals. 

The starting salary for this position is $87,000 per year.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves. #LI-onsite #PDX

 

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

 

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com 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.

 

Salary Range

$57,800.00 - $107,300.00

 

Skills Desired

Analytical Skill, Analytical Skill, Analytical Thinking, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Collaboration, Communication Skills, Curiosity, Data, Data Analysis, Design Of Experiments, Detail-Oriented, Diversity & Inclusion, Drug Discovery, Ethics, Gene Therapy, Immunology, Laboratory, Lifesciences, Machine Learning (Ml), Mammalian Cell Culture, Medical Research, Molecular Biology {+ 11 more}