Principal Scientist - Small Molecules - Biochemistry and Biophysics

Role Summary

The Principal Scientist – Biochemistry and Biophysics will lead screening activities for drug discovery projects within the Small Molecule Research (SMR) Unit at Novo Nordisk (NN), leveraging a highly outsourced CRO model, and supporting external collaborations. The role involves designing assays for hit identification, driving hit-to-lead and lead optimization, and collaborating across cross-functional teams to improve potency, properties, and understanding of mechanism of action. It also requires managing CROs globally, and supporting patenting, reporting, scientific publications, and IND filings.

Responsibilities

• Lead functional groups for the design, development, validation, and implementation of biochemical & biophysical assays for small molecule hit ID and 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 presentations at external conferences and publications 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.

Qualifications

• Required: Master’s degree with 12+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience.
• Preferred: 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.
• In-depth knowledge in biochemical and biophysical assay development and validation.
• Expert in enzymology, enzyme kinetics, and current assay formats for multiple enzyme classes and protein-protein-interaction targets.
• Expert in steady-state and pre-steady state kinetics to determine enzyme and inhibitor mechanism of action. Broad experience in HTS assays. Expertise in utilizing a wide array of biochemical and biophysical technologies, including FI, FP, TR-FRET, AlphaScreen, radiometric methods, DSF, SPR, ITC, MST.
• Additional Hit finding knowledge: DEL, ASMS, and fragment-based screening beneficial.
• Experience developing and executing strategies to address key aspects of small molecule mechanism of action.
• Expert and hands-on experience with high throughput screening and hit validation techniques.
• Broad experience with automation beneficial.
• Demonstrated highly successful project execution across disease areas using in-house and/or CRO resources leading to preclinical and clinical development candidates.
• Impeccable attention to detail; maintain detailed documentation.
• Experienced at writing IND reports and scientific papers.
• Broad experience with protein crystallography.
• Knowledge and experience using corporate database (e.g., CDD Vault/Abase, Dotmatics); experience with data fitting software.
• Experience enhancing operational efficiency and implementing best practices within LoB.
• Track record of innovation and impact on programs documented with co-inventorship on issued patents and/or authorship of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of products (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Education

• Master’s degree with 12+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience.