Principal Scientist - Molecules - Biochemistry and Biophysics

About the Department

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting‑edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas.

We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

The Principal Scientist – Biochemistry and Biophysics will be responsible for leading screening activities for drug discovery projects within the Small Molecule Research (SMR) Unit at Novo Nordisk (NN), leveraging a highly outsourced CRO model, and also supporting external collaborations.

Responsibilities include:

Proposing and developing assays for hit identification strategies for new programs and to drive hit‑to‑lead and lead optimization projects; collaborating within a cross-functional project team to improve compound potency, properties, and understanding of compound mechanism of action (MoA); work collaboratively through interactions across TAs within NN; managing a number of contract research organizations (CRO) across the globe; supporting the preparation of patents, reports, scientific publications, and serving as functional expert in supporting IND filings.

Reports to Director Small Molecule Biochemistry and Biophysics, Novo Nordisk (NN) Small Molecule and Cross Modality Research (SMCMR) Unit, in Therapeutics Discovery (TD).

Will interact and closely collaborate with other Small Molecule unit scientists (medicinal chemists), other members of Therapeutics Discovery, Data Science & Innovation (DSI) computational chemists, D&O (Diabetes & Obesity) biology, Cardiovascular & Renal (CVRD) biology, Rare Disease (RD) biology, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), cellular biology, pharmacology, toxicology and translational medicine teams globally.

Will interact daily with biochemistry and biophysics CROs globally.

• Lead functional groups for the design, development, validation, and implementation of biochemical & biophysical assays for small molecule hit  MoA.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate high‑quality data to a multi-disciplinary project team
• Manage global CROs and external partners on a day-to-day basis to achieve project goals
• Develop and direct collaborations with external CROs performing assay development and transfer, library screening, and hit validation across projects
• Has accountability for CROs timelines and data quality
• Enhance operational efficiency and implementing best practices within Line of Business (LoB)
• Critically evaluate project data while rigorously driving data‑driven Go/No-go decisions, including the identification of resource constraints and bottlenecks
• Communicate project plans/priorities to management
• Effectively communicate and collaborate across global sites. Represent the organization through external communication of impactful scientific research in the form of presentation at external conferences and publication in scientific journals and patents
• Contribute subject matter expertise to develop the research agenda with a clear understanding of the link between scientific project goals and overall long‑term business needs. Propose new projects that support the strategic agenda and address gaps in technological capabilities and therapeutic areas

• Master’s degree with 12+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience required
• 8+ years of biochemistry and enzymology industry experience preferred
• 3+ years of previous experience managing CROs preferred
• 3+ years of biochemistry & biophysics work in a hybrid model preferred
• In-depth knowledge in biochemical and biophysical assay development and validation
• Expert in enzymology, enzyme kinetics, and current…