Principal Scientist - Medicinal Chemist (80-100%*)
Basel (City)
Key information
- Publication date:23 August 2025
- Workload:80 – 100%
- Place of work:Basel (City)
Job summary
Join Novartis in Basel, Switzerland, to advance medicine and improve lives. Be part of a collaborative environment focused on innovation and impact.
Tasks
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to discover new therapies.
- Design and analyze molecules to address scientific challenges.
- Mentor a dynamic team and communicate scientific results effectively.
Skills
- PhD in chemistry or related field with research experience preferred.
- Curiosity and creativity in drug discovery and chemistry.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills for project success.
Is this helpful?
Summary
Full time, onsite, #LI-Onsite
At Novartis we are reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We use innovative science and technology to address some of society's most challenging healthcare issues. We discover and develop breakthrough treatments and find new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible. How can we continue to advance our science to help even more patients in need? We believe the answers are found when curious, courageous, and collaborative people are empowered to ask new questions, make bolder decisions, and take smarter risks.
The Global Discovery Chemistry (GDC) of the Novartis BioMedical Research (BR) department in Basel, Switzerland, is at the core of Novartis’ purpose. We are looking for a highly motivated, passionate researcher with a strong scientific background in chemistry or related life science discipline, a curious mind-set, and agility to invent innovative medicines and advance the frontiers of drug discovery. Join us and help reimagine medicine!
About the Role
Your responsibilities will include:
• Work highly collaboratively in a multidisciplinary project team to discover and develop novel therapies across various disease areas
• Design molecules addressing key project scientific questions aided by the use of cutting-edge computational tools; analyze and integrate complex data generating new design concepts and contributing to define Medicinal Chemistry project strategy
• Synthesize novel derivatives using complex multi-step synthesis and/or parallel automated synthesis
• Experiment in a first class laboratory infrastructure, deploy novel technologies, and collaborate with internal and external partners around the world to progress our projects
• Mentor, coach, and develop a dynamic team of scientific associates • Discuss and communicate scientific results at project/group meetings, decision boards, and external conferences
• Contribute to patent inventorship and scientific publications • In addition to pipeline project responsibilities, participate in global initiatives shaping the future of drug discovery at BR
Minimum requirements:
What you will bring to the role:
• A PhD in chemistry or related life science discipline with excellent theoretical and practical experience
in e.g. synthetic organic chemistry, drug discovery, chemical biology
• Demonstrated track-record of initiating, leading, or being a key contributor to cutting edge research in
chemistry or life sciences
• A mind-set of curiosity, creativity, collaboration and openness to diverse thinking, with an enthusiasm to
develop yourself and others
• Ability to critically interpret results, build new experimental hypotheses, and take calculated risks and
smart decisions
• Passion for small molecule as well as bRo5 chemical space design; hands-on chemistry
experimentation in the laboratory
• Interest in disruptive technologies and science trends, such as data science and
automation/miniaturization, and their application to drug discovery
• Aptitude to work in a fast-paced team-oriented matrix environment
• Excellent oral and written communication and strong influencing skills
• Up to 5 years' experience in Medicinal Chemistry or drug discovery, in industry or academia, preferred but not required
*Restrictions on flexible working arrangements may apply and will be discussed at interview if applicable
Accessibility and accommodation
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to E-Mail schreiben and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network(link is external)
Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards
About company
Basel (City)
Reviews
- Management style1.0
- Salary and benefits3.0
- Career opportunities2.0
- Working atmosphere1.0