Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, cAMP Biology

Novartis Group Companies; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Group Companies in Cambridge, MA seeks a Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow to pursue an innovative project at the forefront of biomedical science and drug discovery. You will join a multidisciplinary Discovery Sciences team and work on GPCR and cAMP signaling within a collaborative environment.

The program emphasizes rigorous research, immersive learning, and exposure to AI tools in biomedical research. This is a full-time, three-year fellowship starting Oct 2026, onsite in Cambridge, MA.

Qualifications

• PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline completed before the fellowship start date.
• Record of scientific achievement (publications, presentations, patents, or equivalent).
• Strong commitment to learning, innovation and exploratory research.
• Basics in cell culture, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques.
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and organizational skills.
• Boundless curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Shape your postdoc project by dedicating efforts to multiple possible key scientific questions.
• Utilize diverse tools to advance your research strategy (in vitro assays, pharmacological tools, genetic studies, animal models).
• Design and implement experiments to uncover novel mechanisms underlying cAMP-dependent signaling.
• Unravel GPCRs interactions with cAMP pathway nodes and understand mode of action.
• Contribute to characterization of pharmacological target classes through deep analysis and cross-functional collaboration.
• Work independently and with interdisciplinary teams across diverse expertise.

Skills

Scientific achievement

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

PhD (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description Summary

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 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will join Discovery Sciences team in Cambridge 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 that have the potential to transform patient care.

Job Description

Internal Job Title: Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Location: Cambridge, MA (Onsite)

* Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

* This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Please only apply if you are currently authorized to work in the US for the 3 year duration of the program.

* This is a full-time training position of up to three years in duration.

Research Opportunity:

Within your position you will investigate GPCR and cAMP signaling pathways in a multidisciplinary team. GPCR proteins are confirmed key drug targets playing an important role in cAMP linked downstream physiological effects. To gain mechanistic insights into cAMP signaling, you will explore key nodes in these various pathways and their intersections using cellular tools, human genetics, genomics, chemical biology, pharmacology and more.

Why Join the Program?

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, and immersive learning experiences, including the implementation of AI tools in biomedical research.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows benefit from:

• Guidance from accomplished scientific leaders and subject matter experts
• Access to advanced technologies, platforms, and research capabilities
• Collaboration across disciplines and organizational boundaries
• A global and diverse community of postdoctoral fellows
• Dedicated programming designed to help fellows thrive throughout their careers.
• Personalized experiential learning opportunities through a Postdoc Practicum that empowers fellows to explore new scientific domains, build cross-functional expertise, and expand their impact beyond their primary research project.
• Opportunities to present research, publish in leading journals, and build an international scientific network.

We are entering a new era of biomedical research breakthroughs through the convergence of biology, technology, and artificial intelligence tools, and fellows are also supported in engaging with these emerging approaches.

This is a full-time training position of up to three years in duration.

Reimagining Medicine Together

At Novartis, our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives. Through this program, you will grow as a scientist and future leader while contributing to discoveries that may ultimately benefit patients worldwide.

Start Date:

The start date for the 2026 Novartis BR Postdoctoral Fellowship Program cohort is October, 2026. Please confirm your availability to meet this date in your cover letter.

Key Responsibilities:

• Shape your postdoc project by dedicating your efforts to multiple possible key scientific questions.
• Combine diverse available tools to consolidate your research strategy (in vitro assays, pharmacological tools, genetic studies, animal models).
• Design, implement and advance scientific experiments to uncover novel mechanisms underlying cAMP-dependent signaling.
• Unravel the interaction of GPCRs with less characterized cAMP pathway nodes and understand mode of action.
• Increase understanding of novel pharmacological target classes either by in depth characterization of single members of questioned pathways or by gaining insights in unexplored general interaction specificities.
• Work independently as well as with interdisciplinary teams and interact with diverse teams covering a broad spectrum of expertise.

Essential Requirements:

• PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in a relevant scientific discipline completed prior to the fellowship start date. The program is intended for scientists immediately following their PhD training (PhD conferred in 2026 only).
• Demonstrated record of scientific achievement (publications, presentations, patents, or equivalent)
• Strong commitment to learning, innovation, fundamental exploratory research and professional development
• Basics in cell culture, genetics, developmental biology, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques.
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and organizational skills.
• Boundless curiosity

Desirable Requirements:

• Imaging techniques, knowledge in signaling assays, as well as genomics/proteomics analysis workflows would be a plus