Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, Lysosomal Lipid Biology and Neurodegeneration

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 Discovery Sciences in Cambridge, MA 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.

About the Role

Internal Title: Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Location: Cambridge, MA, 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:

This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to combine cutting-edge experimental and computational approaches to study organelle biology in neurodegenerative disease. This fellowship will leverage state-of-the-art lipidomics, multi-omics integration, and innovative cellular and preclinical models to investigate how organelle biology influences neuronal health and disease progression.

The fellow will work at the interface of neuroscience, analytical chemistry, data science, and translational research. The project offers unique exposure to high-resolution mass spectrometry, organelle-focused profiling approaches, advanced computational workflows, and the integration of lipidomic, proteomic, and other molecular datasets to develop a systems-level understanding of disease-relevant biology.

Through close interaction with scientific, computational, and drug discovery teams, the fellow will generate insights relevant to ongoing research programs while developing expertise in biomarker discovery, translational science, and multi-omics data interpretation. Opportunities to collaborate with leading academic laboratories and external scientific partners will provide exposure to emerging technologies, foster scientific independence, and support the development of a strong external research network.

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 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:

• Design and execute studies using human neuronal and other disease-relevant cellular models to investigate mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease.
• Generate and interpret large-scale lipidomics datasets using advanced LC-MS technologies.
• Develop and apply computational workflows for processing, visualization, and biological interpretation of complex omics datasets.
• Integrate lipidomics data with complementary biological and multi-omics datasets to identify disease-associated pathways and biomarkers.
• Collaborate closely with scientists across neuroscience, translational profiling, discovery biology, medicinal chemistry, and data science teams.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of novel assays that improve understanding of organelle biology and cellular function.
• Engage with external academic collaborators to apply emerging technologies and advance mechanistic understanding of disease biology.
• Present findings internally and externally and contribute to peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Maintain accurate scientific records and communicate results effectively to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Generate mechanistic insights and translational biomarkers that may inform target validation, model selection, and therapeutic hypothesis testing within neuroscience research programs.

Essential Requirements:

• PhD in neuroscience, cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, or a related discipline.
• Experience generating and interpreting complex biological datasets.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative, multidisciplinary research environments.
• Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience with mass spectrometry-based omics technologies, including lipidomics, metabolomics, or proteomics.
• Experience with cellular models of neurodegenerative disease and/or computational analysis of large biological datasets.

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and cover letter by August 30th, 2026.

In your cover letter, please describe your research interests, career aspirations, and how participation in the Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program will support your long-term development.

Compensation & Benefits:

The starting salary for this position is 87,000 USD 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.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here .

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?

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)

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.