Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, saRNA Biology

Novartis; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 78,300 - 95,700; Full time

Job summary

Novartis invites applications for a Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cambridge, MA, a three-year, full-time training program designed for exceptional early-career scientists to advance biomedical research and drug discovery. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will lead an independent saRNA-focused project, work across disciplines, and contribute to translating discoveries into medicines.

The program emphasizes rigorous research, collaboration, and opportunities to publish and

Qualifications

• PhD completed before start date (2026) or conferred in 2026
• Demonstrated scientific achievement (publications, talks, patents)
• Strong commitment to learning, innovation and development
• Hands-on experience in RNA biology, gene regulation, transcriptional control, epigenetics, or related areas

Responsibilities

• Design and execute an independent saRNA-focused research program.
• Design and evaluate saRNA libraries targeting a model gene.
• Assess saRNA activity in cellular systems with molecular assays.
• Identify features distinguishing functional saRNAs and productive activation.
• Conduct mechanistic studies on saRNA transcriptional activation.
• Evaluate saRNA translatability across model systems.
• Collaborate across RNA biology, genomics, and drug discovery.
• Publish findings and present at meetings.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

qPCR

Western blotting

RNA knockdown

Reporter assays

Molecular biology assays

Data interpretation

Independent research design

Education

PhD in molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry, chemical biology, or related field

Tools

ChIP

RIP

RACE

RNA-seq

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 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.

About The Role

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

Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) are an emerging therapeutic modality that can selectively increase gene expression, offering a unique approach to treating diseases where restoring or enhancing gene function may be beneficial. Despite growing interest in the field, reliable design principles for functional saRNAs remain limited, making discovery largely empirical.

This Postdoctoral project offers a unique opportunity to address this challenge by using a therapeutically relevant model gene to investigate the determinants of productive saRNA activity. The fellow will apply cutting-edge molecular and genomic approaches to design and evaluate saRNA libraries, compare targeting strategies, and uncover the mechanisms underlying saRNA-mediated transcriptional activation. Working at the intersection of RNA biology, transcriptional regulation, and oligonucleotide therapeutics, the fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate across scientific disciplines while helping advance an emerging therapeutic modality. Through studies in cell-based and translationally relevant systems, the project aims to establish evidence-based design principles that enable the more rational development of gene-activating RNA therapeutics and generate insights that could help shape the future of gene-activating medicines.

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 empower 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.

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 1, 2026. Please confirm your availability to meet this date in your cover letter.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute an independent research program focused on understanding saRNA-mediated gene activation and developing improved saRNA design principles.
• Design, prioritize, and evaluate saRNA libraries targeting a therapeutically relevant model gene.
• Assess saRNA activity in cellular systems using molecular and biochemical assays.
• Identify features associated with functional versus non-functional saRNAs and productive gene activation.
• Conduct mechanistic studies to elucidate the molecular basis of saRNA-mediated transcriptional activation.
• Evaluate the translatability of saRNA activity across cell-based and physiologically relevant model systems.
• Assess the generalizability of mechanistic insights and design principles across multiple gene targets.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams spanning RNA biology, genomics, oligonucleotide therapeutics, and drug discovery.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate complex datasets to diverse scientific audiences.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present research at internal and external scientific meetings.

Essential Requirements

• PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry, chemical biology, or a related 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, and professional development
• Strong experimental background in RNA biology, gene regulation, transcriptional control, epigenetics, oligonucleotide therapeutics, or related areas.
• Hands‑on experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular biology assays such as qPCR, Western blotting, RNA knockdown or perturbation approaches, reporter assays, or related methods.
• Ability to design rigorous experiments, troubleshoot complex biological systems, and interpret data in a hypothesis-driven manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific findings clearly to both specialized and cross-functional audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment while also driving an independent research project.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience with one or more mechanistic genomics or chromatin-based approaches, such as Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE), RNA-seq, or analysis of promoter-associated noncoding transcripts.
• Familiarity with computational biology and bioinformatics approaches for analyzing transcriptomic, epigenomic, or sequencing datasets, and integrating multi-modal data to generate biological hypotheses.

Application deadline: August 17, 2026.

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary for this position is 87,000 USD per year.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Why Novartis:

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

EEO Statement

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e‑mail to [email protected] or call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.