Senior Scientist, Structural Biology

Internal Job Title: Senior Scientist I
Position Location: Onsite, Cambridge, MA #LI-Onsite

Biomedical Research (BR) is the innovation engine of Novartis, focusing on powerful new approaches that will help produce therapeutic breakthroughs for patients. The Discovery Sciences department within BR drives early-stage drug discovery and champions innovative therapeutics.

The Protein Sciences group in Discovery Sciences is an interdisciplinary team that has expertise in protein chemistry, enzymology, biophysics, NMR, X-ray crystallography, and electron microscopy (EM). Our mission is to enable structure-guided drug discovery for multiple disease areas and to identify innovative approaches that can address difficult drug targets. We are currently recruiting a Senior Scientist with a strong background and track record in structural biology. The candidate will focus primarily on determination of protein and protein-ligand complex structures to enable structure-based drug discovery using either X-ray crystallography or cryo-EM.   The responsibilities of this new position include setting up crystallization trials, crystal optimization, or EM grid preparation, in addition to data processing, structure refinement and determination using either X-ray crystallography or cryo-EM.  You will closely collaborate with our scientists and contribute to protein production efforts on novel and challenging drug-discovery projects.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the vibrant research community of Novartis BR in Cambridge, MA to work on various early-stage drug discovery projects. The successful candidate will be a curious and highly motivated protein scientist with a collaborative spirit and excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute protocols to obtain high-quality diffracting crystals for structure determination using X-ray crystallography
• Develop and execute protocols for grid optimization, data collection, and data processing for structure determination using Cryo-EM
• Expression and purification of protein for structure determination
• Collaborate with colleagues to characterize and validate protein ligand interaction for structural studies
• Collaborate with colleagues to optimize protein constructs for structure determination
• Maintains a high level of professional expertise through accurate and detailed record keeping and familiarity with scientific literature.
• Work collaboratively with lab associates in a matrix setting to maintain our current structural biology workflow and expand our capabilities.
• Present and communicate results with protein science colleagues and project teams.

Minimum Requirements:

• BS/MS degree in structural biology, biochemistry, life sciences, molecular biology or related field with at least 4 years of relevant research laboratory experience.
• Proven in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in X-ray crystallography or cryo-EM, including crystal optimization, grid preparation, data collection, data processing, structure refinement, and analysis and interpretation of protein structures
• Experience with structural analysis and structure interpretation of protein and ligand interaction
• Excellent collaboration, communication (oral and written) and organizational skills and the ability to present work formally to project teams and scientific research committees.
• Strong desire to learn new techniques in the areas of protein biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience with membrane protein biochemistry including expression, purification, characterization and functional assays
• Proficient with various protein expression systems, E. coli, baculovirus, and mammalian
• Proficient with various protein purification techniques, i.e. affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion chromatography
• Exposure to biophysical methods for validating ligand protein interactions

The salary for this position is expected to range between $85,400 and $158,600 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.

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