Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, Peptide or LMW Delivery of New Drug Modality

About this role

Job Description Summary We are excited to invite applications for the Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program; a unique training opportunity designed for exceptional early-career scientists eager to tackle some of the most challenging problems in biomedical research and drug discovery.

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will join GDC (Global Discovery Chemistry) in San Diego and pursue an innovative research project at the forefront of biomedical science and drug discovery. You will work alongside leading scientists in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment while gaining exposure to the broader ecosystem that translates scientific discovery into medicines.

Our fellows are empowered to ask bold scientific questions, apply cutting-edge technologies, and develop approaches that have the potential to transform patient care.   Job Description

Internal Job Title: Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow Position Location: San Diego, CA, USA (Onsite)

* Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you. * This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Please only apply if you are currently authorized to work in the US for the 3 year duration of the program. * This is a full-time training position of up to three years in duration.

Research Opportunity:

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a multidisciplinary effort to advance the targeted delivery of oligonucleotides with peptides and other LMW ligands. This project will examine how chemical modifications influence therapeutic potency, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution, etc.

The project will focus on ligand design and optimization for targeted central nervous oligonucleotide delivery, including peptide ligands and low-molecular-weight ligands, The fellow will collaborate with experts in oligonucleotides, peptides therapeutics, bioconjugation chemistry, pharmacokinetics, translational biology, and computational sciences.

The Postdoctoral researcher will join a collaborative research environment at Novartis in San Diego and receive strong scientific and career mentorship. This opportunity is well suited for candidates with backgrounds in organic chemistry, drug delivery, bioconjugation and/or peptide or oligonucleotide related chemistry. The ideal candidate will be scientifically curious, collaborative, technically rigorous, and motivated to address key delivery challenges in oligonucleotides and peptides-based medicine. Through this project, the fellow will gain deep experience in therapeutic platform optimization and contribute to extrahepatic delivery of oligonucleotides via peptides and low molecular weight synthetic ligands.

Why Join the Program ?

The Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is designed to develop the next generation of scientific leaders and power the future of medicine through rigorous research, and immersive learning experiences, including the implementation of AI tools in biomedical research.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows benefit from:

• Guidance from accomplished scientific leaders and subject matter experts • Access to advanced technologies, platforms, and research capabilities • Collaboration across disciplines and organizational boundaries • A global and diverse community of postdoctoral fellows • Dedicated programming is designed to help fellows thrive throughout their careers. • Personalized experiential learning opportunities through a Postdoc Practicum that empower fellows to explore new scientific domains, build cross-functional expertise, and expand their impact beyond their primary research project. • Opportunities to present research, publish in leading journals, and build an international scientific network

We are entering a new era of biomedical research breakthroughs through the convergence of biology, technology, and artificial intelligence tools, and fellows are also supported in engaging with these emerging approaches.

This is a full-time training position of up to three years in duration.

Reimagining Medicine Together

At Novartis, our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. Through this program, you will grow as a scientist and future leader while contributing to discoveries that may ultimately benefit patients worldwide.

Start Date:

The start date for the 2026 Novartis BR Postdoctoral Fellowship Program cohort is October, 2026. Please confirm your availability to meet this date in your cover letter.

Key Responsibilities:

As an Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Design & synthesize functional small molecules, bioconjugate with peptides and/or oligonucleotides for biological evaluation • Apply analytical and biophysical methods, including LC-MS/MS, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and related techniques, to evaluate LMW and conjugate purity, stability, binding behavior, and pharmacological properties. • Develop and propose innovative ideas in chemistry and chemical biology to advance drug modality, e.g. peptide or oligonucleotide in drug delivery with primary focus in CNS • Prepare and deliver clear, data-driven presentations that turn findings into actionable insights and inform strategic decision-making. • Publish scientific manuscripts describing novel discoveries, methodologies, and research outcomes in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. • Work effectively both independently and in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams

Essential Requirements:

• PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in a relevant scientific discipline completed prior to the fellowship start date. The program is intended for scientists immediately following their PhD training ( PhD conferred in 2026 only ). • Rich experience in synthetic/medicinal chemistry • Demonstrated record of scientific achievement (publications, presentations, patents, or equivalent) • Strong commitment to learning, innovation, and professi

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