Research Scientist, Protein Sciences (BS or MS)

Job Description Summary

Come help us discover innovative therapeutic breakthroughs for patients! We are seeking a passionate, curious, and collaborative protein scientist to join our Protein Sciences group, an interdisciplinary team that has expertise in protein chemistry, enzymology, biophysics, NMR, X-ray crystallography, and electron microscopy.
As a Protein Scientist, you will focus primarily on the production of proteins to enable structure-guided drug discovery for multiple disease areas. Your responsibilities will include designing protein constructs, carrying out expression in various cell systems, developing methodologies for purification, and protein characterization using biophysical and structural techniques. You will closely collaborate with colleagues within our group and across disease areas to tackle challenging drug discovery projects, contributing to the advancement of early-stage drug development.

Job Description

Internal Job Title: Research Scientist II

Position Location:  Onsite, Cambridge, MA

Job Description:

Come help us discover innovative therapeutic breakthroughs for patients! We are seeking a passionate, curious, and collaborative protein scientist to join our Protein Sciences group, an interdisciplinary team that has expertise in protein chemistry, enzymology, biophysics, NMR, X-ray crystallography, and electron microscopy.

As a Protein Scientist, you will focus primarily on the production of proteins to enable structure-guided drug discovery for multiple disease areas. Your responsibilities will include designing protein constructs, carrying out expression in various cell systems, developing methodologies for purification, and protein characterization using biophysical and structural techniques. You will closely collaborate with colleagues within our group and across disease areas to tackle challenging drug discovery projects, contributing to the advancement of early-stage drug development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute protocols to generate high-quality protein reagents for small molecule screening, hit validation, and structural biology studies of protein-small molecule complexes.

• Design protein constructs based on literature and AI-based structure prediction tools.

• Protein expression in E. coli, mammalian and insect cell systems.

• Protein purification using various chromatography techniques and FPLC equipment.

• Collaborate with colleagues to characterize protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions using biophysical and structural biology techniques.

• Apply critical thinking to troubleshoot experiments and design new approaches.

• Maintain a high level of professional expertise through familiarity with scientific literature and accurate and detailed record keeping.

• Work both independently and collaboratively as part of multidisciplinary teams.

• Present and communicate results with protein science colleagues and project teams.

Role Requirements:

• BS or MS degree in biochemistry, life sciences, molecular biology or related field with at least 2 years of relevant research laboratory experience. This is not a PhD-level position.

• Proven in-depth knowledge with hands-on experience in recombinant protein construct design and expression, including insect cell and mammalian expression systems.

• Proficiency in different protein purification techniques such as affinity, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography using FPLC or HPLC systems.

• Demonstrated critical thinking and troubleshooting ability when handling challenging proteins such as aggregated proteins, multicomponent complexes, or membrane proteins.

• Passionate about biomedical research and drug discovery. Motivated to learn new techniques in protein biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology.

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and ability to work effectively in a matrix team environment.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience in protein crystallography or cryo-EM, either directly or working closely with others.

• Experience in biophysical methods to characterize protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions (e.g. SPR, DSF, ITC, LC/MS).

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! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $77,000 to $143,000/year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/25 through 12/31/25, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-reward

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 us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$77,000.00 - $143,000.00

Skills Desired

Algorithms, Algorithms, Analytical Skill, Analytical Thinking, Chemical Biology, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Collaboration, Communication Skills, Curiosity, Data, Data Analysis, Design Of Experiments, Detail-Oriented, Diversity & Inclusion, Drug Discovery, Ethics, Hypothesis Testing, Immunology, Laboratory, Lifesciences, Mammalian Cell Culture, Medical Research, Molecular Biology, Organization {+ 6 more}