Senior Principal Scientist, Pre-Formulation and Materials Science

Location: California
** ROLE SUMMARY
** This Senior Principal Scientist position will be a strong scientific and leadership role within the Early Formulation Science and Drug Delivery (EFS-DD) group, supporting early-stage drug and drug product design, materials science characterization and strategy, and biopharmaceutics understanding as well as early clinical drug delivery strategy of new small molecules.

The selected candidate will interface with multi-disciplinary research project teams and cross functional management to provide guidance, input and direction on molecular design, dosage form design, solid form strategy, and biopharmaceutics aspects of pre-clinical and clinical candidate development. The role will also focus on developing and demonstrating leadership and drug delivery strategy skills within the Drug Product Design and Supply department which functions as part of the larger Pharmaceutical Sciences division.  

Key activities/abilities include:
* Understanding of connectivity of molecular structure, solution kinetics, thermodynamics, diffusion and permeation of molecules across membranes
* Strong fundamental understanding of molecular and supramolecular interactions of small molecules in aqueous environments
* Ability and interest to understand and probe molecular/supramolecular interactions of small molecules in common enabling drug delivery technologies; desire to optimize system properties to achieve required delivery profiles for pre-clinical and clinical studies
* Strong fundamental understanding of principles governing crystallization and polymorph behavior, characterization techniques for crystalline and amorphous solid forms, and impacts of solid form on stability, manufacturability, and bio-performance of small molecule drug candidates and drug products
* Efficient application of existing advanced modeling and simulation tools for predictive performance of oral absorption and systemic exposure (pharmacokinetics) in pre-clinical and clinical studies
* Development and advancement of the concepts of early translational biopharmaceutics with a focus to improve predictive capabilities by linking
* in vitro
* drug and drug product performance attributes to
* in vivo
* performance attributes
* Lead matrix teams of scientists across multiple levels to deliver portfolio and initiative breakthroughs
* Lead scientific strategy and set direction for advances in oral, small molecule drug delivery through interaction with organizational thought leaders and cross functional management
* Maintain an awareness of and contribute to current relevant scientific literature
* Conduct novel scientific research and present significant findings via internal and external presentations or publications
** ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
*** Will provide scientific advances, leadership, and strategic direction for the fundamental understanding of key connectivity of molecular structure, solution and diffusion behavior and permeation characteristics to enable optimal drug formulation and drug delivery systems design
* Integrates pharmaceutics, physical organic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, materials science, and fundamental biopharmaceutics principles into drug candidate screening and design, formulation design, solid form strategy, and ultimately project direction
* Teach and mentor colleagues across the Pfizer organization
* Cultivates sustainable and effective relationships with internal partners and stakeholders, i.e., partner lines in Medicinal Design, Pharmaceutical Sciences Small Molecule (PSSM), Clinical Pharmacology , Drug Safety (DSRD), relevant Research Units, and Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, and Metabolism (PDM)
* Advances scientific research and expands capability in the areas of molecular design-drug delivery, materials science, early biopharmaceutics, and drug formulation
** BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
*** PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Materials Science, Physical Chemistry, Physical Organic Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry or related discipline with 10+ years relevant experience in drug delivery, or BS/MS in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Materials Science, Physical Chemistry, Physical Organic Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry or related discipline with a minimum of 10-12 years relevant pharmaceutics industry experience in small molecule drug product design.
* Knowledge in biology/pharmacology/drug discovery /drug delivery up to Proof of Concept (POC) studies.
* Small molecule Formulation and/or early Biopharmaceutics, Materials Science, or Pharmacokinetics background, and a strong record of scientific achievement.
* Experience in using and interpreting biophysical modeling, physicochemical (solubility & dissolution) and biological (passive, transporter mediated, efflux) transport phenomena, design, interpretation, and use of
* in vitro
* experiments, or
* in vivo/in vitro
* drug metabolism studies, and interpretation of pre-clinical exposure data for the design and selection of new small molecule drug…