Postdoctoral Scholar, Translational PK (Pharmacokinetics)/PD (Pharmacodynamics) and Investigative Toxicology (TPPIT)

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

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Job Function:

Career Programs

Job Sub Function:

Post Doc – Drug Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Category:

Career Program

All Job Posting Locations:

La Jolla, California, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for a Postdoctoral Scholar, Translational PK (Pharmacokinetics)/PD (Pharmacodynamics) and Investigative Toxicology (TPPIT) to be located in La Jolla, CA.

Purpose: The Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Discovery, Product Development, & Supply (DPDS) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program helps early career scientists gain the training and experience needed to further their careers while addressing the needs of global healthcare. Postdocs work side-by-side with DPDS scientists on innovative research projects and have the opportunity to present and publish their work. They also learn the functional role of scientists in the pharmaceutical industry and receive valuable career advice from mentors while building a network of professional contacts and developing the skills needed to advance their careers.

The Department of Translational PK (Pharmacokinetics)/PD (Pharmacodynamics) and Investigative Toxicology (TPPIT) within Johnson&Johnson is seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist with expertise in the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) characterization of proximity inducing degraders (e.g. PROTACs, molecular glues, RipTacs). This individual will join a globally distributed team of dedicated and passionate scientists and will be member of an inspiring environment where science, innovation and collaboration are key to success.

The successful candidate will lead a new translational research program focused on elucidating the barriers to oral bioavailability of proximity‑inducing therapeutics, including PROTACs, molecular glues, and RIPTACs. The primary objective of this two‑year postdoctoral project, with a potential one year extension, is to develop innovative in vitro intestinal models and evaluate formulation‑based strategies to mechanistically define the determinants of oral bioavailability and tissue permeability for these emerging modalities. Specifically, the project aims to identify key biological and physicochemical factors that limit oral exposure of proximity‑inducing therapeutics and to establish an integrated, predictive in vitro and in silico platforms to reduce reliance on in vivo studies. The project also includes the generation of mechanistic permeability data in advanced, human‑relevant intestinal epithelial models and the evaluation of lymphatic absorption and intestinal secretion using mechanistic in vivo studies and PBPK modeling. The final goal of the project is to define molecular descriptors and predictive design principles to guide the rational optimization of proximity‑inducing therapeutics for improved oral exposure.

You will be responsible for:

Developing translatable in vitro permeability models to mechanistically understand and improve the correlation between intrinsic permeability and fraction absorbed of PROTACs and other proximity inducing modalities.

Evaluating the relative contribution of formulation-mediated lymphatic absorption and intestinal secretion to oral bioavailability using mechanistic in vivo studies and PBPK modeling.

Integration of experimental data with computational modelling to identify molecular features that govern tissue permeability and enable rational design strategies for proximity-induced molecules.

Providing interpretation of data and communicating/reporting results and recommendations to team members, key partners, and collaborators.

Defining and shaping the TPPIT strategy for ADME characterization of proximity-inducing modalities.

Trainings, development activities and conferences.

Disseminating the results at internal and external meetings, and through publications in high impact journals.

Qualifications/Requirements

Education:

A PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences or a related field is required.

Experience and Skills:

Required:

Independent thinking and the ability to effectively collaborate in a highly matrixed environment is required.

Track record of scientific contributions including peer reviewed publications, patents and/or presentations is required.

Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.

Ability to independently determine study design, execution, data analysis and interpretation of in vitro studies is required.

Strong interest in practical in vitro studies and a keen interest in troubleshooting will be vital to ensure successful completion of the project.

Must display a high degree of scientific curiosity and creativity to tackle complex investigational hypotheses.

A strong interest in developing deep knowledge of the scientific literature is essential for success.

Preferred:

Theoretical knowledge and practical experience with PROTACs is highly desired.

Understanding of DMPK relevant areas such as pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, biotransformation, and PK/PD is preferred.

Experience with analytical techniques (LC-MS/MS, HPLC/UPLC) is preferred.

Experience in physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling is preferred.

Hands-on experience in culturing cell lines, primary cells, and organotypic models is preferred.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

If you are under 18 years of age, you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment, as well as get a parent’s consent for the background check.

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Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$79,000.00 - $127,650.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency: