Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow / Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowess

Job ID

REQ-10056733

Date

July 03, 2025

Location

Switzerland

Summary

We are excited to invite applications for the Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

About the Role

This applied research program is designed to transform the landscape of drug discovery. As a fellow, you will harness your skills to make a meaningful impact on patient care and reimagine the future of medicine at Novartis. Drug hunting is a collaborative effort, and you will gain invaluable experience in drug discovery as part of a multi-disciplinary team in Biomedical Research. Don’t miss this chance to be at the cutting edge of drug discovery!

Within the framework of the Innovation Fellowship track, you will become a part of our vibrant and dedicated postdoctoral community, participating in monthly seminars and various events tailored for postdocs. You will be surrounded by a supportive network of postdoctoral researchers and scientists dedicated to accelerating your scientific growth. This program also provides the opportunity to engage in a Postdoc Practicum at another laboratory or within a business unit at Novartis, enhancing your professional skill set. The duration of this applied research program is three years.

The focus of this fellowship includes the exploration of disease-specific organ and tissue delivery methods for therapies such as siRNA, gene therapy, radioligands, and various antibody formats across a range of diseases.

Identifying cell-specific targets or disease-specific tissues through transcriptomics or proteomics poses significant challenges, often resulting in numerous potential targets that require individual validation.

This postdoctoral research will utilize phenotypic phage display to identify antibodies and their corresponding targets in ex-vivo or in-vivo tissues, unveiling novel binding mechanisms and epitopes not typically observed in traditional in-vitro models.

You will thrive in a highly collaborative environment enriched with diverse scientific and technological expertise within Biomedical Research. Through the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will cultivate your competencies as a drug hunter and aspire to be a scientific leader in your field. Join a professional network that fosters your growth as a research scientist and gives you the opportunity to tackle disease while making a transformative impact on medicine.

Preferred Start Date

October 1st, 2025

Key Responsibilities

• Work independently and collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams
• Design, conduct, and analyze antibody phage display selections using complex biological systems such as organs, tissue sections, and/or organoids
• Characterize selected antibodies and identify their targets
• Troubleshoot challenges, analyze, and present data in internal meetings and external conferences
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on target discovery and drug development projects

Role Requirements

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, antibody discovery, or a closely related field
• Candidates in the final year of their thesis work are eligible. Applicants must be within 2 years of obtaining their PhD (i.e., PhD degrees must have been awarded May 2023 or later)
• Hands-on experience with organoid handling, animal/human tissue sectioning and imaging, and lysate preparation is highly preferred. Experience with isolated organ perfusion systems is a plus.
• Demonstrated proficiency in a variety of techniques within molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and cellular assays such as cloning, high-throughput sequencing, data analysis, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy
• Experience in phage display and working in BSL2 environments are advantageous
• Strong publication record or notable scientific achievements (e.g., awards, patents, grants)
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation, and organizational skills
• Passion for fundamental exploratory research and an insatiable curiosity

How to Apply

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Accessibility and Accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If you require reasonable accommodation during any part of the recruitment process or need more detailed information about the essential functions of a position due to a medical condition or disability, please email diversity.inclusion_ch@novartis.com and specify the nature of your request along with your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Why Novartis

Helping people with diseases and their families goes beyond innovative science; it requires a community of intelligent and passionate individuals like you. Collaborate, support, and inspire one another to achieve breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Are you ready to create a brighter future together?

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Benefits and Rewards

Read our handbook to discover how we will support your personal and professional growth: Benefits & Rewards.

Division

Biomedical Research

Business Unit

Pharma Research

Job Type

Full time

Employment Type

Early Career (Fixed Term)

Shift Work

No