PKPD Senior Principal Scientist

Novo Nordisk A/S; Måløv; On-site; DKK 847,000 - 1,245,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk A/S in Denmark seeks a PKPD Senior Principal Scientist to shape translational modelling across drug discovery and development. You will set PKPD strategy, link preclinical data with human safety and efficacy, and guide interdisciplinary teams from research through regulatory submission.

Lead mechanistic and empirical modelling efforts, build robust PKPD models, and mentor scientists while collaborating with global teams in a scientifically ambitious environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in pharmaceutical, medical, physical, mathematical or engineering sciences, with substantial pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Ideally 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical/biotech experience.
• Strong knowledge in PKPD, quantitative systems pharmacology and/or PBPK modelling.
• Experience building mechanistic and empirical models.
• Proficiency with Phoenix WinNonlin/NLME, NONMEM or equivalent, and tools like R, Python or MATLAB.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills to influence decisions across disciplines.
• Nice to have: ML workflows, external providers, or due diligence in PBPK/PKPD modelling.

Responsibilities

• Set the direction for translational PKPD screening and mechanistic modelling across different molecular formats.
• Design preclinical PKPD studies, interpret results and communicate conclusions that support project decisions.
• Build mathematical models and run simulations of human PKPD using in-house data and literature.
• Guide project teams on preclinical study design and dose setting for toxicity and first-in-human trials.
• Contribute scientific input to regulatory interactions and documents.
• Advance capabilities in mechanistic modelling and PKPD; mentor fellow scientists.

Skills

PKPD modelling

Translational science

Quantitative modelling

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Education

PhD in pharmaceutical/ biomedical/ physical/ mathematical/ engineering sciences

Tools

Phoenix WinNonlin/NLME

NONMEM

R

Python

MATLAB

Job description

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Your impact begins here

As a Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PKPD) Senior Principal Scientist, you will shape how translational modelling supports decisions across drug discovery and development. You will set direction for PKPD strategies, connect preclinical evidence with human safety and efficacy, and help interdisciplinary teams progress a diverse research portfolio. Your scientific leadership will strengthen project decisions from early research through clinical development and regulatory submission.

What you’ll bring

You bring deep expertise in translational science and mathematical modelling, together with the judgement to turn complex evidence into clear recommendations. You communicate effectively across disciplines, work independently and help colleagues solve scientific challenges.

• A PhD in pharmaceutical, medical, physical, mathematical or engineering sciences, or another relevant discipline, combined with substantial pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Ideally, at least ten years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in PKPD, quantitative systems pharmacology and/or physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling.
• Experience developing mechanistic models, or combinations of mechanistic and empirical models, to represent biological or other natural processes.
• Practical experience with pharmacokinetic and modelling software such as Phoenix WinNonlin/NLME, NONMEM or an equivalent platform, and with analytical tools such as R, Python or MATLAB.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions and collaborate across scientific disciplines.

Useful, but not essential: Experience with machine-learning workflows, managing external service providers, or supporting due diligence within physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling.

What you’ll do

• Set the direction for translational PKPD screening and mechanistic modelling across different molecular formats, working with research, non-clinical and clinical stakeholders.
• Design preclinical PKPD/pharmacodynamic studies, interpret the results and communicate conclusions that support project decisions.
• Build mathematical models and run simulations of human PKPD using in-house in vitro and animal data, together with relevant literature.
• Guide project teams on preclinical study design, dose setting for toxicity studies, first-in-human dose selection and clinical trial design.
• Contribute scientific input to regulatory interactions and documents, including Investigational New Drug applications, Investigational Medicinal Product Dossiers and New Drug Applications.
• Advance scientific capabilities in mechanistic modelling and PKPD, solve complex problems and mentor fellow scientists.

Who you’ll work with

You will join one of two closely connected PKPD teams within DMPK and Modelling Sciences. Together, the teams advance the use of quantitative systems pharmacology, physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling and PKPD modelling across the research and development value chain.

Your closest collaborators will include in vivo pharmacologists, in vitro biologists, clinical modelling scientists, toxicologists, clinicians and regulatory affairs specialists. The area is part of Global Research within Research & Development and works with global discovery and development colleagues, project teams and external partners.

What you can expect here

You can expect a scientifically ambitious environment where knowledge-sharing and collaboration are part of the everyday work. You will have room to build your scientific and personal capabilities while contributing expertise that informs preclinical studies, first-in-human trials, clinical development and regulatory submissions. The role offers broad exposure across therapeutic areas and across the development pathway, from early research to submission.

For this role, the Annual Base Salary ranges from 847,000 to 1,245,100 (DK), corresponding to the level of the position. The confirmed JL9 pay table lists these as the annual minimum and maximum values, but the source does not state the currency explicitly.

The placement within the salary range will be assessed during the recruitment process based on the candidate’s skills, competencies, knowledge, and relevant experience.

Incentives and Benefits: The salary package may include short-term and/or long-term incentives as well as other employee benefits based on position level, location, functional area and relevant market benchmarks.

Your impact begins today. If you are ready to use translational modelling to strengthen decisions across research and development.

For further information, please contact Line Hollesen Schefe, Manager, Non-clinical PKPD and PBPK, at [phone].

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.