in vivo Research Scientist, Comparative Medicine - Research Collaborations

Internal Job Title: Research Scientist I/II

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

• This is a full-time onsite role with flexible scheduling aligned to study needs, including potential coverage across a Monday–Sunday workweek. Some weekend on-call responsibilities and Biomedical Research holiday coverage may be required.

About the Role:

Research Collaborations (RC) is a centralized core unit within In Vivo Science & Technology (IST), Comparative Medicine (CM). RC delivers best in class in vivo science to enable the discovery and development of transformative medicines. We partner closely with Biomedical Research (BR) to design and execute high impact in vivo studies, develop innovative disease relevant models, and advance platform capabilities that accelerate drug discovery and development across all modalities and disease areas.

With a strong foundation in animal welfare and 3Rs principles, RC brings deep scientific expertise and operational excellence to collaborative, disease focused research. Our scientists operate at the interface of experimental pharmacology and translational science, partnering with BR Disease and Functional Areas to deliver robust, ethical, and innovative in vivo solutions that support patients with unmet medical needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform state‑of‑the‑art in vivo experimentation to the highest ethical, technical, and scientific standards, independently and in collaboration with project teams.
• Demonstrate proficiency in a broad range of in vivo technical skills, including compound administration (PO, IV, SC, IP), blood sampling via multiple routes, tissue collection, clinical observations, and routine and specialized necropsy techniques in applicable in‑house species (mouse, rat).
• Execute advanced necropsy and tissue‑processing methodologies, including targeted organ dissection, perfusion‑assisted tissue collection, and sample preservation for histopathology, molecular, and biomarker analyses, in coordination with pathology and translational partners.
• Apply experience with basic in vivo surgical procedures (e.g., minor implantations, catheter placement, specialized sampling), where prior exposure is advantageous for complex study designs.
• Contribute to experimental design and scientific discussions, including protocol review and selection of appropriate in vivo and necropsy strategies aligned with study objectives.
• Generate high‑quality in vivo datasets supporting efficacy, PK/PD, and translational interpretation, integrating necropsy‑derived endpoints such as tissue biomarkers, pathology findings, and exposure–response relationships.
• Collaborate closely with Disease Area teams and cross‑functional partners (e.g., pathology, bioanalysis, pharmacology) to deliver reliable, reproducible, and decision‑enabling data.
• Contribute to data interpretation, basic statistical analyses, and data presentation, supporting study conclusions and next‑step proposals; experience with coding‑based data analysis (e.g., R, Python, or similar tools) is desirable.
• Participate in rota‑based responsibilities, including weekend duties and non‑standard dosing hours as required.
• Ensure full compliance with institutional, ethical, and regulatory requirements, including animal welfare and 3Rs principles.
• Pursue continuous learning and professional development to expand technical, necropsy, and scientific expertise.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a technical or scientific role within a laboratory animal research environment.
• Strong foundation in in vivo experimental science, with hands‑on experience in small animal models.
• Exposure to in vivo surgical procedures or demonstrated interest in developing surgical capabilities (extensive experience not required).
• Experience supporting efficacy, PK/PD, or translational pharmacology studies.
• Exposure to multiple disease‑relevant or mechanistic animal models.
• Demonstrated commitment to animal welfare, scientific rigor, and high‑quality data generation.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively within cross‑functional scientific teams.
• Fluency in English.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., stand for extended periods, and perform repetitive motion tasks.

The salary for this position is expected to range between $34.26/hr. and $63.59/hr. for Research Scientist I, and $41.65/hr. and $77.33/hr. for Research Scientist II. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

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.