Principal Scientist, Biologics Formulation Lead

Novartis AG; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and life insurance

401(k) with company match

Generous vacation and personal days

Job summary

Novartis Biologics Center in Cambridge, MA seeks a Principal Scientist to lead formulation development and characterization for complex biologics, including mAbs and ADCs. You will guide a team of 10+ associates, shaping early-stage strategies and developability assessments to identify risks and enable candidate selection.

The role requires hands-on formulation expertise, leadership of scientists, and collaboration with CMC and discovery teams to advance clinical candidates and optimize drug

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing scientific teams.
• Hands-on expertise in protein formulations and assessment of biophysical properties of the molecule (e.g., DLS, Viscosity, Thermal and colloidal stability).
• Strong background in developing strategies for formulations for large-molecule therapeutics, with understanding of early-stage development workflows.
• Experience designing and executing preformulation studies and interpreting stability-indicating assays (e.g., SEC, CE, charge variants, MS).
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, scientific curiosity, and ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and multitasking skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute formulation screening strategies for large-molecule therapeutics, with emphasis on mAbs and related biologic modalities.
• Lead studies to identify stable formulations and communicate results to cross-functional R&D teams.
• Manage team resources, timelines, and deliverables with a strong customer-focused mindset.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to team members as the functional manager.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment while engaging stakeholders across biologics discovery and technical development.
• Partner with CMC teams to advance clinical candidates, finalize clinical formulations, and support drug product process development.
• Develop stabilization strategies for liquid, frozen, and lyophilized drug product formats for clinical development.
• Apply and interpret biophysical and analytical methods, including DSC, DLS, UV-Vis, turbidity, subvisible particle analysis, viscosity, SEC, and HIC.
• Work with automation teams to implement high-throughput formulation screening and physicochemical characterization across discovery, optimization, and early development.
• Operate analytical instrumentation, analyze data, maintain ELN documentation, and author technical reports.
• Contribute to data interpretation, scientific presentations, and cross-functional discussions within the global BRC community.

Skills

Leadership

Team coaching

Scientific communication

Problem solving

Biologics formulation

Analytical thinking

Education

PhD in biochemistry/biotechnology/chemistry

Tools

DSC

DLS

UV-Vis

SEC

HIC

Job description

Novartis Biologics Center in Cambridge, MA seeks a Principal Scientist to lead formulation development and characterization for complex biologics, including mAbs and ADCs. You will guide a team of 10+ associates, shaping early-stage strategies and developability assessments to identify risks and enable candidate selection.

The role requires hands-on formulation expertise, leadership of scientists, and collaboration with CMC and discovery teams to advance clinical candidates and optimize drug