Scientist I - In Vivo Pharmacology

About the Department

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge, and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

This position is in the Diabetes Discovery Pharmacology team in the Diabetes Research US research area based in Lexington.

About the Role

The Scientist I is expected to have a strong background in diabetes and metabolism research and be a self-motivated team player with strong communication skills. This role requires managing multiple activities in parallel with a collaborative mindset, strong personal drive, and dedication. Flexibility and the ability to adapt to shifting priorities are essential.

The Scientist I will implement strategies and operations for conducting and summarizing non-clinical in vivo studies internally and externally to support new drug evaluations for our Diabetes research pipeline. Responsibilities include designing, coordinating, executing, and reporting pre-clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo experiments and associated endpoints within research projects as part of target validation, target maturation, or mode-of-action studies.

Additional responsibilities include developing and improving in vivo models supporting non-clinical studies, optimizing and developing assays for endpoint analyses, contributing to innovation by identifying and exploring new therapeutic targets, and communicating evaluations and data packages internally, externally, and in regulatory submissions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and summarize non-clinical in vivo studies, including study endpoints.
• Implement strategies for conducting and summarizing non-clinical in vivo studies and associated analyses.
• Ensure proper execution and documentation of all experiments.
• Analyze and interpret data to draw meaningful conclusions and recommendations.
• Design and coordinate pre-clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic experiments.
• Collaborate with research projects to design and coordinate pre-clinical in vivo experiments.
• Ensure adherence to ethical and regulatory guidelines in experiment design and execution.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders for smooth execution of experiments and data collection.
• Develop and improve in vivo models, in vitro, and ex vivo assays supporting non-clinical studies.
• Identify opportunities to develop and improve models and assays for non-clinical studies.
• Conduct literature reviews and stay updated with advancements in in vivo models, laboratory techniques, and diabetes/metabolism research.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement and refine methodologies.
• Prepare and deliver presentations on data evaluations and implications.
• Collaborate with internal teams to prepare regulatory submissions as applicable.
• Engage with external stakeholders to share in vivo data and insights, fostering collaboration and partnerships.
• Lead experiment teams comprising colleagues from different areas to support project goals.
• Provide guidance regarding experimental strategies and set study timelines to meet project deliverables.
• Communicate study updates, data generation, analyses, and reporting.
• Draft reports and protocols with limited assistance from supervisors.
• Actively participate in external collaborations and represent the team or project at external conferences.
• Recommend targets, new biologies, or methodologies.
• Mentor or directly supervise less experienced team members based on business need, skill, and/or interest.

Qualifications

• BS/BA Degree with 6+ years’ relevant experience, or a master’s degree with 4+ years’ relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree with limited to no experience.
• Experience in conducting and summarizing non-clinical in vivo studies.
• Strong knowledge and experience in pre-clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo experiments.
• Proven ability to develop and improve in vivo models supporting non-clinical studies.
• Experience in communicating and presenting in vivo data internally, externally, and in regulatory submissions.
• Familiarity with drug discovery processes and target validation.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a scientific research setting.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and disability insurance.
• 401(k) savings plan.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Employee assistance program.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance, and auto/home insurance.
• Time off pursuant to sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.

Pay

The base compensation range for this position is $115,000 to $160,000. Base compensation is determined based on several factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and/or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors.