Senior Scientist, Discovery- Oncology In Vivo

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine; Spring House (PA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine seeks a Senior Scientist in Oncology Discovery at Spring House, PA. Lead in vivo and ex vivo programs, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and drive development of cancer therapies from bench to bedside.

You will mentor scientists and contribute to publications, with a focus on translational cancer biology, imaging, and biomarker strategies in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in life sciences with 7–10+ years in pharma/biotech or MS with 7+ years or PhD with 1–3 years post‑grad experience.
• Experience with oncology xenografts and mouse models; humanized or engineered tumor models preferred.
• Experience with small molecules and/or biologics; immune‑modulatory agents or cell therapies desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret in vivo oncology studies to validate targets and agents.
• Develop and optimize in vivo models; perform PK/PD biomarker studies across cancer models.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver high‑quality data.
• Mentor junior scientists and supervise projects; present data to internal/external audiences.

Skills

Cell culture

Xenografts

Tumor immunology

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Project leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or higher

Tools

Flow cytometry

IHC

ELISA

RT-PCR

Bioluminescent imaging

Luminex

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions are personal.Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Pharmacology

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

About Oncology

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Our Oncology team is focused on the elimination of cancer by discovering new pathways and modalities to finding treatments and cures. We lead where medicine is going and need innovators with an unwavering commitment to results.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Scientist, in Oncology Discovery, Innovative Medicine, located in Spring House, PA

Role Overview

Join our Oncology In Vivo team and drive the characterization and development of small molecules, biologics, radioligands, antibody-drug conjugates, cell therapies, and immune modulators for cancer treatment, coordinating cross-functional teams and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. You will lead in vivo and ex vivo studies across multiple research programs and contribute to the advancement of innovative therapies.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret independently in vivo pharmacology studies to validate and characterize oncology targets and therapeutic agents.
• Develop and optimize in vivo models, including efficacy, mechanism of action, PK/PD biomarker studies, and dose/schedule evaluations in diverse cancer models.
• Lead the development and adaptation of research methods from literature or internal innovation to improve existing models.
• Perform and oversee complex in vivo preclinical cancer studies, ensuring scientific rigor, compliance with all regulatory requirements, internal quality standards and timely delivery.
• Analyze and present data using appropriate statistical methods in formats suitable for internal stakeholders and external publications.
• Collaborate across functions and contribute to projects beyond your own area, acting as a scientific resource and thought leader.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously , coordinating with project leaders and external partners as needed.
• Mentor and supervise junior scientists, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
• Contribute to ex vivo analyses (flow cytometry, IHC, ELISA, RT-PCR, Luminex®) and imaging studies (bioluminescent imaging for metastatic disease models) as required.
• Stay current with oncology and tumor immunology literature to integrate emerging insights into research strategies.
• Communicate clearly and professionally , delivering impactful presentations and reports to internal teams and external audiences.
• Flexibility required for occasional weekend, evening and holiday dosing or animal monitoring. Some onboarding training may be conducted in Spring House, PA site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BS/ BA) in the life sciences (molecular/ cellular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, tumor immunology) with at least 10 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotech industry/ lab/ academic experience OR a Master’s degree (MS) with at least 7 years of relevant experience, or PhD with 1-3 years of relevant post‑graduate experience.
• Ability to cell culture of cancer and immune cells.
• Experience with oncology‑relevant xenografts and syngeneic mouse models is required; primary grafts, orthotopic models, humanized models, or genetically engineered tumor models are preferred.
• Experience with small molecules and/ or biologics is required
• Experience with immune‑modulatory agents, vaccines or cell therapies such as CAR‑Ts is desirable.
• Strong skills in tumor implantation techniques and dosing, proper handling of therapeutics, tumor measurement, health monitoring, and data collection and analysis are required.
• Experience with bioluminescent imaging, flow cytometry, IHC, ELISA, RT‑PCR, Westerns, or Luminex® is desirable.
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage several projects simultaneously; detail oriented with excellent record keeping skills are required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with matrixed teams, internally and externally, is required.
• Excellent data management and record-keeping skills are required.
• Ability to effectively present scientific data and concepts to colleagues and teams is critical, and experience presenting at external meetings is also required.
• Proven track record of adherence to animal welfare and compliance regulations is critical.
• Experience with mentoring or managing direct reports is desirable.
• Experience in writing technical drafts for patent filings, IND (US‑FDA) or CTA (EMA) filings is desirable.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers, internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

#LI-Onsite

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS), Clinical Trials Operations, Critical Thinking, Data Savvy, Drug Discovery Development, Innovation, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Pharmacovigilance, Process Improvements, Product Improvements, Relationship Building, Safety-Oriented, Scientific Research, Technologically Savvy