Senior Principal Scientist​/Assoc Director, Oncology Translational Research

Position: Senior Principal Scientist / Assoc Director, Oncology Translational Research
Job Description Summary

Location:

Cambridge LI#Onsite The Oncology Pathology and Biomarkers group within Oncology Translational Research at Novartis Biomedical Research is seeking an accomplished Imaging Scientist to join the Image Analysis team in Cambridge.

This role is for a scientific and technical leader with expertise in digital pathology, computational image analysis, AI/ML, and tissue-based oncology biomarkers. The successful candidate will develop and support scalable workflows for whole-slide pathology and multiplexed tissue imaging data.

The position will expand OPB’s AI-enabled image analysis capabilities and deliver scalable solutions for digital pathology and translational biomarker assessment across oncology programs.

The scientist will support spatial analysis of tumor samples, help establish pipelines for Rare Cyte Orion high-plex imaging data, and strengthen harmonized HALO AI workflows across Cambridge and Basel.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities Digital Pathology and Imaging Strategy Develop and deploy scalable workflows for pathology whole-slide image acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation

Apply AI/ML and quantitative image analysis to address biological, translational, and biomarker questions in human and preclinical samples

Provide expertise in digital pathology, spatial analytics, and AI-enabled biomarker quantification across oncology programs

Evaluate emerging computational imaging approaches that strengthen OPB biomarker capabilities and decisional data deliveryHALO AI Support and Cross-Site Harmonization Serve as a subject matter expert for HALO and HALO AI workflows and drive harmonization across Cambridge and Basel Build robust, reproducible, and well-documented analytical processes that improve operational resilience and cross-site consistency

Improve image data organization, sharing, and best practices to support collaboration with Oncology Data Science, Data
42, and enterprise AI initiatives AI/ML-Enabled Image Analysis Build, optimize, and apply AI/ML models and reproducible workflows for whole-slide, multiplexed, and high-plex tissue imaging

Use tools such as HALO and HALO AI for segmentation, classification, feature extraction, spatial analysis, and biomarker scoring

Translate image-derived outputs into clear biological insights that inform project decisions

High-Plex Imaging and Rare Cyte Orion Analysis Develop and implement pipelines to process, analyze, visualize, and interpret Rare Cyte Orion and other high-plex imaging data Partner with OPB scientists to define fit-for-purpose analytical approaches for multiplexed tissue imaging studies

Integrate high-plex imaging outputs with broader biomarker and translational datasets

Establish quality control, documentation, and reporting standards that support innovative use of multiplexed imaging in oncology

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Impact Partner with scientists, pathologists, physician-scientists, computational biologists, data scientists, and project teams to design, analyze, and interpret tissue-based studies

Engage across Oncology Translational Research and broader Novartis Biomedical Research to identify stakeholder needs, address workflow gaps, and implement practical solutions

Communicate image analysis strategies, recommendations, and findings clearly to multidisciplinary teams while contributing to a collaborative culture of scientific excellence and innovation

Essential requirements

This is a dual posting. The final level of the offered role will be determined by the hiring team based on the skills, experience, and capabilities required to perform the role at the offered level.

PhD or MS in biology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, computational biology, data science, pathology, or a related field

Minimum 5 years of industry experience

Significant experience in digital pathology, computational image analysis, imaging data science, translational oncology, or tissue-based biomarker research

Expertise with image analysis tools such as HALO and experience developing, implementing, and applying AI/ML models to tissue images

Demonstrated success applying advanced imaging solutions to pathology and translational research workflows, including high-resolution whole-slide and gigapixel image datasets

Strong understanding of tissue-based biomarker development, oncology biology, and translational research

Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders, identify process…