Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, Oncology Translational Research
About The Position
We are excited to invite applications for the Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, a unique training opportunity designed for exceptional early-career scientists eager to tackle some of the most challenging problems in biomedical research and drug discovery. As a Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, you will join the Oncology Translational Research team in Cambridge, Massachusetts and pursue an innovative research project at the forefront of biomedical science and drug discovery. You will work alongside leading scientists in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment while gaining exposure to the broader ecosystem that translates scientific discovery into medicines. Our fellows are empowered to ask bold scientific questions, apply cutting-edge technologies, and develop approaches with the potential to transform patient care. The Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is designed to develop the next generation of scientific leaders and power the future of medicine through rigorous research, immersive learning, and exposure to emerging technologies including artificial intelligence in biomedical research.
Requirements
- PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant scientific discipline such as Oncology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, or a related field, completed prior to the fellowship start date.
- PhD conferred in 2026.
- This fellowship is intended for scientists immediately following completion of doctoral training.
- Demonstrated record of scientific achievement through publications, presentations, patents, or equivalent accomplishments.
- Strong commitment to learning, innovation, and professional development.
- Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working with in vitro models and handling preclinical and/or clinical tissue samples.
- Hands-on experience with protein analysis and cellular characterization techniques, including Western blotting, ELISA, protein labeling, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, high-content imaging, and microscopy.
- Interest in exploring emerging technologies and translating new approaches into impactful research applications.
- Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within matrixed scientific teams.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with mass spectrometry and proteomics data generation, analysis, and visualization.
- Experience using analytics and visualization tools such as Spotfire and R.
- Experience in oncology translational research.
Responsibilities
- Work with expert translational, proteomics, and microscopy teams using state-of-the-art instrumentation and technologies.
- Develop and validate novel cell surface proteoform enrichment and mass spectrometry characterization methods in vitro.
- Apply validated approaches to identify and characterize surface protein and proteoform composition across cancer models.
- Investigate how proteoform composition differs across biomarker-defined cancer subtypes and evolves during treatment response and resistance.
- Optimize methods for tissue analysis and extend findings from cell culture into preclinical and patient-derived samples.
- Contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and translational biomarkers.
- Co-create a comprehensive research plan with scientific mentors, integrating emerging scientific literature and innovative methodologies.
- Execute experiments, interpret results, and drive scientific decision-making.
- Develop and validate novel in vitro methods for cell surface proteoform enrichment and mass spectrometry-based characterization.
- Apply scalable approaches to characterize surface protein and proteoform composition in models of therapeutic response and resistance.
- Optimize methods for tissue-based applications and translational studies.
- Communicate scientific findings to cross-functional project teams and key stakeholders.
- Present research at internal and external scientific meetings.
- Publish novel discoveries in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Benefits
- health, life and disability benefits
- a 401(k) with company contribution and match
- vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
