Job Description

Summary

As part of the Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will join our vibrant, dedicated postdoctoral community for events, including the monthly postdoc seminars and other scheduled events for postdocs. Fellows are surrounded by a supportive, collaborative community of postdocs and scientists, who would contribute to the acceleration of your scientific growth, along with building your professional skillset, e.g. you will have the opportunity to do a Postdoc Practicum in another laboratory or in a business function of Novartis. This applied research program has a duration of 3 years.

About the Role

Internal Job Title : Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Location : onsite, San Diego, CA #LI Onsite

About the role

We are thrilled to seek applications for our Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program .

This applied research program is designed to change the way we approach drug discovery. As a fellow, you will learn to apply your skills to make a difference for patients and reimagine medicine at Novartis. Drug hunting is a team sport, and you will gain experience in drug discovery as part of a multi-disciplinary team in Biomedical Research. Seize this chance to be at the forefront of the future of drug discovery!

As part of the Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will join our vibrant, dedicated postdoctoral community for events, including the monthly postdoc seminars and other scheduled events for postdocs. Fellows are surrounded by a supportive, collaborative community of postdocs and scientists, who would contribute to the acceleration of your scientific growth, along with building your professional skillset, e.g. you will have the opportunity to do a Postdoc Practicum in another laboratory or in a business function of Novartis. This applied research program has a duration of 3 years.

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral fellow with a background in chemical biology, organic chemistry, and oligonucleotide chemistry to join our team in San Diego, California. The candidate will lead and execute a high-level project focusing on organic synthetic and chemical biology aspects of oligonucleotide chemistry and siRNA chemistry & delivery in a dynamic and collaborative research environment. We welcome candidates who share our passion for understanding and implementing the chemical intricacies of siRNA to help advance the field.

Through the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will build your competency as a drug hunter, and as a scientific leader in the field. You will join a professional network that will support your growth as a research scientist, and you will have the opportunity to tackle disease and make an impact, by reimagining medicine together.

Key responsibilities

As an Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Work independently as well as with interdisciplinary teams
• Develop, design, conduct and report an independent research program concentrating on innovative aspects of siRNA and oligonucleotide chemistry.
• Synthesize and characterize small molecules, oligonucleotides and their conjugates.
• Drive Structure-Activity-Relationship studies to explore oligonucleotide and conjugation chemistries, form data driven hypothesis and strategies to optimize design for enhanced biological performance.
• Drive forward the process development activities and evaluate process performance for oligonucleotide synthesis and associated techniques. 
• Explore and propose innovative ideas in the field of oligonucleotide chemistry and chemical biology with potential to advance siRNA research.

Role requirements :

• PhD in chemical biology, organic chemistry, or related discipline.
• Note that PhD students in the last year of their thesis work are eligible to apply. Applicants are only eligible to apply up to 2 years from the date of receiving their PhD (i.e. PhD degrees must have been awarded May 2023 or later).
• Preferred experience includes organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis, and bioconjugation chemistry involving peptide/LMW and siRNA chemistry.
• Strong publication record or other scientific achievements (i.e. awards, patents, grants).
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and record keeping/Notebook.
• Passion for fundamental exploratory research and boundless curiosity

How to apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter by September 12, 2025 for consideration. Please make sure to discuss in the cover letter how this training program will help you fulfill your career goals. 

The starting salary for this position is $87,000 per year.

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. #PDX

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?

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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 & 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 [email protected] 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.

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