Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Injectable Hydrogel Formulations of Biologics
Be a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program
Our Research Laboratories’ Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be a best-in-industry program for industrial postdoctoral researchers, designed to provide you with an academic focus in a commercial environment. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, postdoctoral researchers will be positioned to excel in an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery.
Position Overview
Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) enables drug discovery and drug product development through application of pharmaceutical science and drug delivery research from target identification through clinical candidate selection for both therapeutics and vaccines. DPS in West Point, PA is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the department. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary effort to evaluate the delivery and stability of structurally diverse large molecule APIs (therapeutic proteins, peptides, antigens) through development of versatile biomaterial platforms based on hydrogel formulations. Responsibilities will include the design, preparation, and characterization of formulation approaches, evaluation of drug release kinetics in vitro, and stability assessment under accelerated conditions. The successful candidate will partner to support the design and execution of in vivo studies for preclinical performance.
Additionally, the successful candidate will work closely with colleagues in Pharmaceutical Sciences and connect with the therapeutic discovery, analytical R&D, biologics drug substance and drug product development organizations to address the formulation and delivery challenges of biologics. Novel findings will be presented at both internal and external scientific forums and published in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will independently develop and implement scientific ideas and strategies in an interdisciplinary environment, sharing learnings with cross-functional teams and gaining insight into many aspects of biologic and vaccine discovery, development, and manufacturing.
Minimum required education:
Candidates must currently hold a PhD OR will you have completed your PhD within the next year. Degree should be in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or related disciplines.
Required experience and skills:
- Background in materials science, biomaterials, polymer chemistry, protein formulations and/or bioconjugation techniques.
- Knowledge and experience in materials and analytical characterization.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and strong ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.
- Independently takes initiatives in problem solving and find solutions to scientific challenges.
- Strong scientific acumen and motivation to solve complex scientific problems via independent planning, design, execution, and interpretation of experiments.
Preferred experience and skills:
- Experience and knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
- Soft materials/biomaterials design and hydrogels
- Formulation and drug delivery
- Complex delivery systems including gels, liposomes, and particulate-based formulations
- Protein science and biochemistry including understanding of molecular liabilities and post-translational modification
- Protein biophysical and biochemical characterization
- Experimental knowledge and skills in materials science characterization (such as DLS, DSC, FTIR, electron microscopy, NMR, rheology) and/or analytical methodologies of large molecules (such as CD, fluorescence, UV-Vis, SDS-PAGE, SEC, HPLC, ELISA
- Familiarity with state-of-the-art drug delivery technologies from academic and industry
- Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications