Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, Peptide or LMW Delivery of New Drug Modality

Novartis is unable to offer relocation support or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US for the 3-year duration of the program and have the San Diego location accessible.

About the Role

Join the Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, a unique training opportunity for exceptional early-career scientists to tackle challenging problems in biomedical research and drug discovery. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Global Discovery Chemistry (GDC) in San Diego, you will pursue innovative research at the forefront of biomedical science, working alongside leading scientists in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. This full-time training position lasts up to three years, empowering fellows to ask bold scientific questions, apply cutting-edge technologies, and develop transformative approaches to patient care.

Research Opportunity

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to advance the targeted delivery of oligonucleotides using peptides and other low-molecular-weight (LMW) ligands. The project will explore how chemical modifications influence therapeutic potency, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution, with a focus on ligand design and optimization for targeted central nervous system (CNS) oligonucleotide delivery. You will collaborate with experts in oligonucleotides, peptide therapeutics, bioconjugation chemistry, pharmacokinetics, translational biology, and computational sciences. This opportunity is ideal for candidates with backgrounds in organic chemistry, drug delivery, bioconjugation, or peptide/oligonucleotide-related chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize functional small molecules, bioconjugates with peptides, and/or oligonucleotides for biological evaluation.
• Apply analytical and biophysical methods (e.g., LC-MS/MS, chromatography, mass spectrometry) to evaluate LMW and conjugate purity, stability, binding behavior, and pharmacological properties.
• Develop and propose innovative ideas in chemistry and chemical biology to advance drug modalities, with a primary focus on CNS-targeted peptide or oligonucleotide delivery.
• Prepare and deliver data-driven presentations to translate findings into actionable insights and strategic decisions.
• Publish scientific manuscripts in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals describing novel discoveries, methodologies, and research outcomes.
• Work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.

Requirements

• PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in a relevant scientific discipline, completed prior to the fellowship start date (PhD conferred in 2026 only).
• Rich experience in synthetic/medicinal chemistry.
• Demonstrated record of scientific achievement (e.g., publications, presentations, patents).
• Strong commitment to learning, innovation, and professional development.

Desired Qualifications

• Strong background in drug delivery, biomolecule conjugation, and chemical biology.
• Experience in CNS and/or other disease areas with high unmet medical needs.

Benefits

• Guidance from accomplished scientific leaders and subject-matter experts.
• Access to advanced technologies, platforms, and research capabilities.
• Collaboration across disciplines and organizational boundaries.
• A global and diverse community of postdoctoral fellows.
• Dedicated programming to support career development, including a Postdoc Practicum for exploring new scientific domains and building cross-functional expertise.
• Opportunities to present research, publish in leading journals, and build an international scientific network.
• Engagement with emerging approaches in biomedical research, including AI tools.

Pay

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

Schedule

This is a full-time training position lasting up to three years, with a start date of October 2026.