Sr Scientist Therapeutic Effector Development Novartis NIBR

4 FDA approved drugs; 15+ clinical candidates; 400+ patents; 21 years of NIBR San Diego - John Jay history!

The Therapeutic Effector Development Group - a key component of the NIBR San Diego Genome Engineering Platform - is recruiting a Senior Scientist to join a highly collaborative global effort devoted to discovering the next generation of transformational genome-targeting medicines. The San Diego Genome Engineering Platform comprises a core team of +20 scientists with additional access to a wide repertoire of world-class collaborative functions including automation, protein expression, protein engineering, molecular biology, data science, pharmacology, and drug discovery. The San Diego Genome Engineering Platform itself forms part of a larger genome engineering effort comprising +40 scientists globally, which individually or collectively interact with project teams to tailor targeted genome engineering treatments for the most urgent unmet medical needs. The successful candidate will contribute from the bench to an effort devoted to tailoring genome modifying effectors such as Cas9 nucleases for therapeutic delivery in cell- and animal-based based models with a view towards their therapeutic application. The candidate will work with other elements of the team, platform, and global functions to characterize on- and off-target effector profiles for key therapeutic indications, conduct independent research efforts in cell-based systems, work closely with analytical functions, establish, validate, and execute cell-based functional assays, and contribute as an innovator and thought leader wherever possible.

Your responsibilities include:

• Converting protein designs or sequences into functional effectors, often in viral vector delivery vehicles, using modern molecular biology techniques, including troubleshooting and sequencing validation
• Conceiving, engineering, or executing cell-based assays to test comparative efficiency, efficacy, deliverability, durability, and on- an off-target activity of functional effectors, often in high throughput format
• Culturing, passaging, preserving, mycoplasma-testing, mammalian cell lines
• Operating standard lab equipment including span-8 pipettors, plate-based fluorescence and luminescence readers, cell counters
• Participate in global efforts to perform internal validation, modification, or development of extant genome modifying effectors in a clinic-focused manner
• Communicate effectively with diverse project teams and other core groups across NIBR to coordinate with molecular biology, structural biology, computational modeling, disease area, and automation experts

Diversity & Inclusion / EEO

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Minimum Requirements

What you will bring to the role:

• Masters +3 years of experience or bachelors +5 years of experience in biochemistry, protein engineering, protein evolution, molecular biology, or related discipline
• Significant practical experience as a molecular biologist capable of translating engineering concepts into practical expression outputs, either purified or ectopic, with all accompanying validation and QC expertise
• Significant practical experience with mammalian cell biology experimental workflows
• Significant experience with mammalian cell-culture maintenance and cell-
• Comfort in a collaborative, collegial, non-hierarchical, highly-dynamic matrixed environment

Prized intangibles:

• Chemical biology expertise
• Direct, hands-on experience with the engineering or modification of genome modifying effectors such as CRISPR-Cas9, TALEN, ZFNs, Prime Editors, Base Editors, or others
• Ability to design or exploit gene regulatory circuits and systems
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to speak to audiences and stakeholders at all levels, internally or externally

Why Novartis?

766 million lives were touched by Novartis medicines in 2021, and while we’re proud of this, we know there is so much more we could do to help improve and extend people’s lives.

We believe new insights, perspectives and ground-breaking solutions can be found at the intersection of medical science and digital innovation. That a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment inspires new ways of working.

We believe our potential can thrive and grow in an unbossed culture underpinned by integrity, curiosity and flexibility. And we can reinvent what's possible, when we collaborate with courage to aggressively and ambitiously tackle the world’s toughest medical challenges. Because the greatest risk in life, is the risk of never trying!

Imagine what you could do here at Novartis!

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations: Individuals in need of a reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition or disability 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.

COVID-19: While Novartis does not require vaccination at this time, for certain Novartis sites in the US all associates and candidates may be required to either upload an image of their COVID-19 vaccine card demonstrating proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 (or other similar evidence of vaccination) or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken by the associate or candidate within the past seven days to enter any of our sites and/or customer office or healthcare facility, as well as prior to participating in other work related off-site meetings. Employees working in customer-facing roles must adhere to and comply with customers’ (such as hospitals, physician offices, etc.) credentialing guidelines, which may require vaccination. As required by applicable law, Novartis will consider requests for reasonable accommodation for those unable to be vaccinated. This requirement is subject to applicable state and local laws and may not be applicable to employees working in certain jurisdictions. Please send accommodation requests to [email protected] .