Research Associate - In Vivo Pharmacology (Lexington, MA, US)
About this opportunity
About the Department
Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.
The Position
The Research Associate will be responsible for strategy implementation and operations for conducting and summarizing non-clinical in vivo studies internally and externally in the support of new drug evaluations. Design, coordinate, and report pre-clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo experiments within research projects. Communicate evaluations and implications of in vivo data internally, externally, and in regulatory submissions as relevant.
Demonstrates some subject matter knowledge. Sets and achieves day-to-day operations with some impact on others within or outside the unit. Works on problems of limited scope. Follows standard practices and procedures in analysing situations or data from which answers can be readily obtained. Normally receives general instructions on routine work and detailed instructions on new projects or assignments. Might require guidance from manager/senior colleagues.
Basic, hands-on work plus beginning to be responsible for assays set-up & execution; participates in data analyses & presentation with supervisor to team or site; may develop/draft protocols of moderate complexity with supervisor input; may present ideas or data to team, site, or global project team.
Relationships
Reports to the Senior Manager, Platform Innovation. This position will interact with the related research area team members and other research groups at Novo Nordisk, as well as global internal stakeholders and external research collaborators. This position will function as an individual contributor.
Essential Functions
Strategy implementation and operations for conducting non-clinical in vivo studies
Drug candidate screening, hit identification, and lead optimization, preferably in oligonucleotide field.
Design/conduct experiment to understand the mechanism of siRNA
Assay optimization: develop and optimize multiplexed in situ hybridization (ISH/FISH) and immunohistochemistry/ immunofluorescence (IHC/IF) protocols
Molecular biology methodologies, e.g., RNA extraction and RT-qPCR, protein extraction and western blot
In vivo structure-activity-relationship studies (e.g., mouse dosing; sample analysis)
Generating and maintaining clear experimental record and reports as needed
Summarizing non-clinical in vivo studies
Analyze and interpret data from in vivo studies
Prepare comprehensive summaries and reports of the findings from in vivo studies
Communicate the results and implications of in vivo studies to internal and external stakeholders
Support of new drug evaluations
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support the evaluation of new drugs
Contribute to the design and execution of pre-clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo experiments
Qualifications
High School Diploma and 8+ years’ relevant experience required. With an Associate or Vocational degree, 4+ years’ relevant experience required; or BS/BA with limited to no experience
Familiarity with in vivo models for non-clinical studies (e.g., animal handling, dosing, and necropsy )
Experience in experimental design and the use of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in drug discovery
Strong scientific communication skills, including the ability to present and interpret in vivo data
Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and a translational mindset in exploring new technologies.
A team player who thrives in a collaborative work environment
The base compensation range for this position is $70,400 to $123,200. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors.
Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.
We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.
At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and defeating diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.
Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.
If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
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Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 85 comparable Associate Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 25 biopharma companies.
Salary context
25 of 85 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 85 comparable roles
+ 4 more countries
Seniority mix
85 of 85 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
11 of 85 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
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How we calculate "similar"
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Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.