Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow in Neuroscience

Job Description Summary

We are excited to invite applications for the Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program; a unique training opportunity designed for exceptional early career scientists eager to tackle fundamental challenges in neurodegenerative disease and drug discovery.

As a Discovery Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will join the Neuroscience Disease Area in Cambridge and pursue an innovative research program investigating mechanisms of TDP 43–driven neurodegeneration. You will work alongside leading scientists in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment while contributing to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.

 

Job Description

Internal Job Title: Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Location: Cambridge, MA, onsite #LI-onsite

* This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. 

* Please note that relocation support is not available for this position.

The start date for the 2026 Novartis BR Postdoctoral Fellowship Program cohort is October 1, 2026. Please confirm your availability to meet this date in your cover letter.

Research Opportunity

This project maps early neuronal TDP-43 interaction networks influenced by disease-associated glial environments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease to identify shared, druggable targets across neurodegeneration.

The Fellow will leverage human iPSC‑derived neuron–glia systems, proteomics, transcriptomics, and multi‑omics integration to uncover mechanisms of neuronal vulnerability and disease progression. ​

Why Join the Program?

The Novartis Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is designed to develop the next generation of scientific leaders and power the future of medicine through rigorous research, and immersive learning experiences, including the implementation of AI tools in biomedical research.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows benefit from:

• Guidance from accomplished scientific leaders and subject matter experts

• Access to advanced technologies, platforms, and research capabilities

• Collaboration across disciplines and organizational boundaries

• A global and diverse community of postdoctoral fellows

• Dedicated programming is designed to help fellows thrive throughout their careers.

• Personalized experiential learning opportunities through a Postdoc Practicum that empower fellows to explore new scientific domains, build cross-functional expertise, and expand their impact beyond their primary research project.

• Opportunities to present research, publish in leading journals, and build an international scientific network

We are entering a new era of biomedical research breakthroughs through the convergence of biology, technology, and artificial intelligence tools, and fellows are also supported in engaging with these emerging approaches.

This is a full-time training position of up to three years in duration.

Reimagining Medicine Together

At Novartis, our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. Through this program, you will grow as a scientist and contribute to discoveries that may ultimately benefit patients worldwide. ​

Key Responsibilities

As a Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Design and execute an independent, hypothesis‑driven research program

• Develop and apply human iPSC‑based neuron and glial models

• Utilize genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics approaches

• Analyze and integrate multi‑omics datasets

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across research units

• Communicate findings through presentations and peer‑reviewed publications

Essential Requirements:

• PhD (or equivalent) in neuroscience, biology, or related discipline (completed prior to fellowship start date) ​. The program is intended for scientists immediately following their PhD training (PhD conferred in 2026 only).

• Demonstrated record of scientific achievement (publications, presentations, patents, or equivalent)

• Strong expertise in neurobiology, molecular and cell biology, or biochemistry

• Strong commitment to learning, innovation, and professional development

• Experience with human iPSC‑derived neuronal or glial models

• Experience in confocal microscopy and high-content imaging and analysis

• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex proteomics datasets

Desirable Requirements:

• Expertise in TDP-43 or apolipoprotein E biology and mechanisms of neurodegeneration

• Experience with protein interactome mapping (Halo µMapping) or chemo-proteomics

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and cover letter by July 25th, 2026.  In your cover letter, describe your research interests, career aspirations, and how this fellowship will support your long‑term development. ​

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary for this position is 87,000 USD per year.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

 

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

 

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

 

Salary Range

$57,800.00 - $107,300.00

 

Skills Desired

Analytical Thinking, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Collaboration, Curious Mindset, Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented, Ethics, Gene Therapy, Immunology, Machine Learning (ML), Mammalian Cell Culture, Medical Research, Molecular Biology, Patient Care, Science