Postdoctoral Researcher – Translational PBPK/PD Modeling Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Researcher

We are searching for the best talent for Postdoctoral Researcher, located in Beerse, Belgium.

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our Translational PBPK/PD modeling group within the Translational Pharmacokinetic Pharmacodynamic and Investigative Toxicology (TPPIT) department located in Beerse, Belgium. This postdoctoral opportunity is designed for scientists who want to tackle fundamental translational challenges in oncology drug development. The successful candidate will work on mechanistic modeling questions at the interface of pharmacology, biology, and quantitative data science, with the goal of improving how complex preclinical data are translated into human dose and regimen predictions for next-generation solid tumor therapies.

In this role, the candidate will develop and apply innovative mechanistic translational modeling strategies that integrate in vitro, in vivo, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, efficacy and safety data across emerging therapeutic modalities. The objective is to improve human dose prediction of solid tumor therapies, by strengthening the translation from preclinical findings to clinical development. This work will enable stronger decision-making in the selection of promising candidate drugs and associated dosing regimens at the interface of pre-clinical/clinical development.

The candidate will build mechanistic PK/PD models linking target-mediated tissue concentrations for novel modalities (e.g. radioligand therapies, T-cell engagers, and antibody-drug conjugates) to biomarkers of interest…. The work will involve integrating multiple experimental data streams, ranging from advanced tumor in vitro models to quantitative preclinical biodistribution studies, in order to characterize systemic, tumor and tissue exposure, efficacy drivers, and safety liabilities. Model predictions will be ultimately verified with clinical PK, PD, efficacy and safety datasets. A close collaboration with clinical pharmacology and pharmacometric experts, in vitro and in vivo scientists, and external partners is expected. The candidate will be authoring scientific reports, internal and external presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.

Qualifications / Requirements

Required:

• PhD in a relevant life science subject area (pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacometrics, pharmacokinetics, biomedical engineering, systems pharmacology) with strong expertise in PBPK or mechanistic PK/PD modeling.
• Hands-on experience with translational modeling, nonlinear mixed-effects or systems modeling & simulation approaches,e.g. Monolix, NONMEM, SimBiology, MATLAB, R, Simcyp, SimCYP designer or related environments.
• Broad understanding of, and demonstrated interest in, experimental systems relevant to model-informed data generation, including organotypic models and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies.
• Strong scientific communication skills, independence, and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team are critical.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of organizational ability
• Ability to work full-time on-site/3 working days on site.

Preferred:

• Ability to guide experimental design to generate fit-for-purpose data for mechanistic model development and application
• Skills in mathematical problem solving, critical data analysis/interpretation, and ability to critically evaluate, interpret and integrate large datasets and literature.
• Knowledge of pharmacology and/or modeling of novel modalities (radioligand therapies, T-cell engagers, and antibody-drug conjugates)

What We Offer

• This is a three-year position, fully funded by VLAIO (Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship), a government agency of the Flemish Region of Belgium.
• You will be part of a consortium of internal and external collaborators, which offers ample opportunity for scientific growth and enhancing your networking skills.
• The candidate will work closely with experienced scientists across translational pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, pharmacometrics, and discovery teams, while also building an independent scientific profile through publications, conference presentations, and cross-functional research collaborations.
• The candidate will be expected and supported to publish impactful scientific work in peer-reviewed journals and to present findings at JNJ global research sites and relevant scientific conferences, with approximately 2% domestic and international travel.
• The postdoctoral experience is intended to provide both deep technical development and broad exposure to model-informed drug development in an industry setting.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is: €60,000.00 – €96,255.00

In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees' and companies' performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees – and in some location's eligible dependents – can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.

*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.