Scientist, Neuroscience discovery

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group in Cambridge, MA seeks a Scientist to advance pain biology-focused drug discovery. You will lead experiments translating biological insights into therapeutic opportunities, with emphasis on DRG neuron cultures, in vivo models, and molecular assays.

The role requires independent design, robust data generation, and clear communication to multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment. PhD or equivalent with pharma/biotech exposure is preferred.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with strong pain biology expertise.
• Experience with DRG neurons and tissue processing (CNS/PNS).
• Proven ability to design and execute disease models and pharmacology assays.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support drug discovery programs focused on pain biology.
• Design experiments to investigate mechanisms and validate targets.
• Develop and optimize in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo pain models and assays.
• Perform aseptic mammalian cell culture including DRG neurons and explants.
• Conduct PK/PD and in vivo studies with tissue collection and analysis.
• Perform ELISA, MSD, Western blot, RT-qPCR, IHC/IF, and flow cytometry assays.
• Develop fit-for-purpose assays to answer key questions.
• Analyze data and communicate results to project teams.
• Maintain thorough documentation and contribute to study reports.

Skills

Pain biology

Neuroscience

Molecular biology

Cell culture

In vivo pharmacology

Assay development

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Independent work

Education

PhD in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or related

Master's + 4+ years relevant industry experience

Tools

ELISA

MSD

Western blot

RT-qPCR

Immunohistochemistry

Flow cytometry

DRG culture

Job description

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group is an innovation-driven pharmaceutical company committed to "For patience, for life." Our core therapeutic areas include oncology, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and autoimmune diseases. We are continuously expanding into areas with significant unmet medical needs. Our Cambridge, MA site is dedicated to cutting-edge research aligned with the company strategic directions.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist who is excited by scientific discovery, enjoys tackling unanswered questions, and is motivated to translate biological insights into new therapeutic opportunities. The CNS team at Simcere Pharmaceutical Group is a highly collaborative, and rapidly growing group focused on discovering and developing innovative therapeutics for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in pain biology and will independently contribute to drug discovery programs from target validation and assay development. This position is laboratory-focused and is ideal for a scientist who enjoys designing experiments, developing models, generating high-quality data, and using those data to drive program decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently lead and support drug discovery programs based on in-depth knowledge of pain and chronic pain biology.
• Design and execute experiments to investigate mechanisms of pain and validate novel therapeutic targets.
• Develop, establish, and optimize in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo pain models and pharmacological assays.
• Perform aseptic mammalian cell culture, including established cell lines, primary DRG sensory neuron cultures, and DRG explant cultures.
• Design and execute PK/PD and in vivo pharmacology studies, including animal dosing, tissue collection, processing, and downstream analysis.
• Perform molecular, cellular, and histological assays including ELISA, MSD, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry.
• Develop and optimize fit-for-purpose assays to answer key biological and program-specific questions.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data and integrate findings across cellular, molecular, and in vivo studies.
• Consistently generate high-quality, reproducible, and decision-enabling data while maintaining strong laboratory productivity.
• Maintain accurate experimental documentation and contribute to study reports and program documentation.
• Clearly communicate experimental results, scientific rationale, conclusions, and recommendations to project teams.

Qualifications

Required

• PhD in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline. (Alternatively, a Master's degree with 4+ years of relevant industry or research experience, preferably in pharma/biotech).
• Strong scientific expertise in pain biology, sensory neuroscience, or peripheral nervous system biology.
• Hands-on experience with primary DRG sensory neuron culture, including adult mouse DRG neurons or DRG explant preparations.
• Experience with tissue collection and processing from CNS and PNS tissues, particularly DRG, spinal cord, and brain.
• Hands-on experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques such as ELISA, MSD, Western blot, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and related quantitative assays.
• Demonstrated experience developing and applying disease models, pharmacological assays, or target-validation approaches.
• Strong experimental design, troubleshooting, data analysis, and scientific problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in the laboratory and successfully manage multiple experiments and priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to clearly present scientific findings to multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred

• Experience designing and conducting in vivo pain pharmacology or PK/PD studies.
• Proficiency with multiple routes of drug administration, particularly intrathecal (IT), intravenous (IV), and intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration.
• Experience with behavioral or molecular models of neuropathic, inflammatory, or chronic pain.
• Experience investigating CNS/PNS drug delivery, biodistribution, target engagement, or pharmacodynamic responses.
• Previous experience working in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery environment.