Senior Scientist – Immunology and biotherapeutics

Novartis AG; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis in Cambridge seeks a senior scientist to lead immunology-focused studies, evaluating how novel biotherapeutics interact with immune cells. You will design immune profiling strategies, work with primary cells and multicellular systems, and generate mechanistic data to inform candidate selection and safety assessment.

The role requires deep immunology expertise, experience with flow cytometry, immunoassays, and omics readouts, and strong communication across cross-functional teams in a

Qualifications

• Recent Ph.D. graduate (0-1 year) or MSc in Life Science with 2–5-year research experience in human immunology or cell biology.
• Deep expertise in human immunology and immune assay development using primary cells and multicellular systems.
• Experience assessing immunogenicity and immune-related liabilities for biologics or modalities.
• Ability to analyze data critically and design follow-up experiments.
• Proficiency with immunological and molecular readouts such as flow cytometry, immunoassays, qPCR, transcriptomics or imaging.

Responsibilities

• Design, establish, and execute immunology-focused profiling strategies to evaluate immune cell activation, modulation, cytokine release, innate and adaptive responses.
• Execute and analyze complex assays involving primary cells, multicolor flow cytometry, and functional immunological assays.
• Generate hypotheses, design experiments, analyze data, and prioritize follow-up work.
• Create mechanistic immunology data packages to support candidate optimization and safety assessment.
• Collaborate with immunology, disease biology, oligonucleotide biology, antibody engineering, bioanalytics, toxicology, and translational medicine teams.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Chemical Biology

Chemistry

Clinical Research

Clinical Trials

Education

PhD in Life Sciences / Immunology

MSc in Life Sciences

Tools

Flow cytometry

Immunoassays

qPCR

Transcriptomics

Imaging

Job description

Job Description Summary

WORK ARRANGEMENT: On-Site Working, #On-site

LOCATION: Cambridge, MA

RELOCATION SUPPORT: This role is based in Cambridge, United States. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

We are seeking a highly motivated senior scientist with strong expertise in human immunology, immune profiling, and disease-relevant multicellular assay systems, combined with working knowledge of xRNA biotherapeutics and general immunogenicity principles. The successful candidate will lead immunology-focused studies to evaluate how novel biotherapeutic modalities, including antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) and related xRNA approaches, interact with immune cells and pathways. This role will generate mechanistic insights to inform therapeutic design, candidate selection, translational biomarker strategies, and early safety risk assessment, with a primary emphasis on immunological understanding and assay excellence.

Job Description

The Immunogenicity and Mechanistic Immunology unit in the Biologics Research Center (BRC) focuses son immune profiling and immunogenicity assessment that inform the characterization and optimization of biotherapeutics, including antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOC) expansion across disease areas.

The scientist will join our Cambridge immunology team and work in matrix multidisciplinary project teams to design and execute immune profiling studies tailored to specific target tissues and disease to support the selection of safe and effective AOC in various disease areas.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, establish, and execute immunology-focused profiling strategies to evaluate immune cell activation, modulation, cytokine release, innate immune sensing, adaptive immune responses, and disease-relevant functional outcomes.
• Competent and independent in executing and analyzing complex assays involving primary cells (including primary immune and non-immune cells), multicolor FACS analysis and functional immunological assays
• Generates hypotheses, designs and executes experiments, critically analyzes and interprets data, able to prioritize experiments and design follow-up experiments
• Generate mechanistic immunology data packages to support candidate optimization, translational biomarker hypotheses, safety risk assessment, and decision-making across discovery and early development programs.
• Collaborate closely with teams in immunology, disease biology, oligonucleotide biology, antibody engineering, bioanalytics, toxicology, and translational medicine to align assay strategy with program needs.
• Regularly communicate and present results, prepare reports, representing the Unit in project teams
• Open mindset, organization skills and ability and eagerness to develop novel assays or analysis tools based on project needs in different disease areas
• Maintain familiarity with scientific and technical literature pertinent to the projects

Video Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJbkTX4VueQ

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Recent Ph.D. graduate (0-1 year) or MSc in Life Science, preferably immunology or cell biology plus 2–5-year research experience in human immunology or cell biology in industry or academic settings
• Deep expertise in human immunology and immune assay development, preferably using primary immune cells, multicellular assay systems, tissue-relevant models, or disease-relevant ex vivo platforms.
• Experience assessing immunogenicity, immune activation, cytokine release, anti-drug immune responses, or immune-related liabilities for biologics or emerging therapeutic modalities
• Demonstrated ability to critically analyze data, learn and combine new techniques and concepts quickly, design and prioritize experiments
• Proficiency with immunological and molecular readouts such as flow cytometry, immunoassays , qPCR, transcriptomics or i mazing.
• Scientific curiosity, initiative, commitment, flexibility and good organization and presentation skills
• Work independently and as a team member with open communication with groups and collaborators

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:

• Working knowledge of xRNA biotherapeutics , AOC or antibody-based delivery platforms is highly desirabl e
• Experience in orthogonal omics data analysis is a plus but not mandatory

Why Novartis?

Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us.

Rewards:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $98,700 & $183,300 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

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.

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 and 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 [e-mail] 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.

Salary Range

$98,700.00 - $183,300.00

Skills Desired

• Analytical Thinking
• Chemical Biology
• Chemistry
• Clinical Research
• Clinical Trials