Associate Scientist I, Discovery-Oncology

7555-Janssen Pharmaceutica NV Legal Entity; Geel; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Vacation days

Parental leave

Bereavement leave

Well-being reimbursement

Insurance plans

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson in Beerse, Belgium, is seeking a Senior Scientist in Oncology Discovery within Innovative Medicine. You will drive in vivo cancer model development, PK/PD biomarker studies, and cross‑functional collaboration to advance cancer therapies.

The role requires hands-on oncology model experience, strong data analysis, and the ability to manage multiple projects while upholding animal welfare and regulatory standards. Join a global leader delivering transformative cancer treatments.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS/BS with relevant oncology experience and model development.
• Hands-on experience with xenografts or other oncology models.
• Experience with small molecules or biologics is desirable.
• Strong data management and scientific writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, perform and interpret in vivo preclinical cancer studies.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Conduct tumor implantation, dosing and data collection.
• Analyze data and present findings in a clear format.
• Contribute to ex vivo analyses (FACS, IHC, ELISA) when needed.
• Maintain thorough documentation and adhere to welfare regulations.

Skills

In vivo cancer models

PK/PD biomarker studies

Tumor biology

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Animal welfare compliance

Problem solving

Project management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences

Master’s degree in life sciences

A.S./VET experience in pharma/biotech

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions are personal.Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function: Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development Job Sub Function: Pharmacology Job Category: Scientific/Technology All Job Posting Locations: Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium

Job Description: About Innovative Medicine Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

About Oncology Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Our Oncology team is focused on the elimination of cancer by discovering new pathways and modalities to finding treatments and cures. We lead where medicine is going and need innovators with an unwavering commitment to results. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Scientist, in Oncology Discovery, Innovative Medicine, located in Beerse, Belgium Join our Oncology In Vivo team and drive the characterization and development of small molecules, biologics, radioligands, antibody-drug conjugates, cell therapies, and immune modulators for cancer treatment, coordinating cross‑functional teams and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. You will contribute to in vivo and ex vivo studies across multiple research programs and contribute to the advancement of innovative therapies. Specifically, you will establish and perform in vivo model development, target inhibition, efficacy, mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) biomarker studies, and will evaluate the influence of dose, schedule and therapeutic combinations in various cancer models.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, perform, interpret and report complex in vivo preclinical cancer models.
• Conduct methods of in in vivo experimentation, including tumor implantation, dosing, proper handling of chemotherapeutics, tumor measurement, health monitoring, and data collection and analyses.
• May contribute to ex vivo analysis of tumor cells or immune cells by FACS, IHC or ELISA, RT-PCR, or Luminex®.
• May perform bioluminescent imaging studies using molecular reporters or disseminated/ metastatic disease models.
• Analyze using appropriate statistical methods and present data in a clear presentation‑ready format.
• Analyze and present data in a clear presentation‑ready format.
• Manage multiple in vivo experiments simultaneously.
• May contribute on various projects outside of their own, or collaborate with partners from relevant functions.
• Act as a resource on project teams with clear and professional verbal and written communication.
• Some weekend, evening, and holiday dosing/ animal monitoring required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S./B.A.) in the life sciences (molecular/ cellular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, tumor immunology) with at least 3 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotech industry/ lab/ academic experience
• Master’s degree (M.S.) with at least 2 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotech industry /lab/ academic experience is required
• Associate’s degree (A.S.) with at least 5 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotech industry /lab/ academic experience is required
• Ability for cell culture of cancer or immune cells is preferred
• Experience with oncology -relevant models including xenografts, syngeneic models, primary grafts, orthotopic models, transgenics or genetically engineered tumor models is required
• Experience with small molecules and/ or biologics is desirable
• Experience with immune‑modulatory agents, vaccines or cell therapies such as CAR‑Ts is desirable
• Skills in tumor implantation techniques and dosing, proper handling of therapeutics, tumor measurement, health monitoring, and data collection and analysis are required
• Good organizational skills including the ability to support more than one project simultaneously are required
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with people and teams are required
• Intellectually curious and well informed on the latest scientific advances in the field is preferred
• Good data management record‑keeping skills are required
• Good oral and written communication skills are required
• Able to effectively present scientific data and concepts to colleagues and teams is required
• Proven track record of adherence to animal welfare and compliance regulations is critical

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs.

Preferred Skills

• Analytical Reasoning
• Clinical Data Management
• Data Savvy
• Drug Discovery Development
• Execution Focus
• Pharmaceutical Medicine
• Pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacology
• Pharmacometrics
• Proactive Behavior
• Process Optimization
• Process Oriented
• Report Writing
• Scientific Research
• Technologically Savvy

The anticipated base pay range for this position is: €52,000.00 - €82,685.00

Benefits

• an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions.
• Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well‑being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health.
• We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans.

*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions are personal.Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/.