Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, Lysosomal Lipid Biology and Neurodegeneration

Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

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.

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.

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

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   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…