Assistant Scientist - I

About the role

The Formulation Scientist will provide hands-on laboratory support to the Sterile Formulation Sciences team in Rahway, NJ (100% onsite) on a 1‑year contract with possible extension or conversion based on performance and business needs. The role focuses on development of sterile pharmaceutical products, including formulation and process development, laboratory execution, and characterization.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute hypothesis‑driven formulation and process‑development experiments for sterile pharmaceutical products.
• Prepare formulation buffers and reagents and execute development batches and fill‑finish activities using appropriate aseptic techniques and Good Laboratory Practices, as applicable.
• Support processing of solution and lyophilized formulations and other dosage‑form preparation techniques as required.
• Perform formulation characterization and analytical testing, including pH, osmolality, viscosity, particle‑size measurements, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and HPLC.
• Support stability and stress studies, analyze experimental data, summarize findings, and document conclusions.
• Draft, review, and execute protocols supporting laboratory batches and process‑development activities.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous documentation in laboratory notebooks, protocols, and technical reports.
• Support laboratory readiness through equipment care, material preparation, and maintenance of a clean and organized laboratory environment.
• Collaborate with analytical operations, manufacturing, and other scientific teams to meet project timelines and deliverables.
• Review and apply relevant scientific literature, methods, and emerging technologies to improve formulation compositions and processes.
• Perform all laboratory activities safely and in accordance with applicable site procedures and safety policies.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related scientific field. B.S. with 2‑3 years of relevant experience OR M.S. with 1‑2 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Excellent hands‑on laboratory skills in pharmaceutical formulation, sterile product development, process development, or a related area.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively within a team.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail, experimental execution, documentation, and project timelines.
• Self‑driven and motivated to learn new techniques, technologies, and scientific concepts.
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional scientific and operational teams.

Skills

• Experience with biologics and sterile formulation development.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience in formulation and/or process development.
• Understanding of formulation and aseptic processing in a non‑GMP/GLP development environment.
• Hands‑on experience with process‑development and benchtop unit operations, including mixing, pumping, filtration, and lyophilization.
• Familiarity with biophysical and biochemical analytical techniques such as DLS, DSC, DSF, SDS‑PAGE, and UV/Vis.
• Experience using statistical software such as JMP.
• Previous experience within the pharmaceutical or biologics industry or prior client experience.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced laboratory environment and adapt to changing project needs.

Pay

$32.14 an hour