Senior Principal Scientist/Principal Scientist I/II Full-time

Senior Principal Scientist/Principal Scientist I/II, Oncology (RLT)

Salary Range: CHF122,500.00 – CHF227,500.00

Location: Basel, Switzerland

Relocation Support: This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Shape the future of cancer treatment by driving innovative radioligand therapies from discovery to clinic. As a scientific leader within our Oncology Drug Discovery team in Basel, you will lead cutting-edge preclinical research, designing impactful in vivo studies and collaborating across global, multidisciplinary teams to unlock the potential of next-generation cancer treatments. This role offers a unique opportunity to combine scientific excellence with leadership—mentoring talent, influencing strategy, and translating complex data into meaningful insights that accelerate life-changing therapies for patients worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and lead in vivo studies supporting preclinical evaluation of radioligand therapies
• Drive efficacy, biodistribution, imaging, and mechanism of action studies across oncology programs
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance drug candidates toward clinical development
• Manage external partnerships with contract research organizations and academic collaborators
• Mentor, guide, and develop scientists to strengthen scientific and professional capabilities
• Present data and insights clearly to influence decisions across global research and development teams

Essential Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology, Cell Biology, or a related biomedical discipline
• Minimum three years of additional experience in biomedical research within academia or industry
• Strong background in cancer biology with a proven track record of scientific achievement
• Extensive experience designing and managing in vivo oncology studies, including efficacy and pharmacokinetic assessment
• Expertise in ex vivo analysis methods such as flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, or RNA sequencing
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary and global research teams
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English, both written and verbal
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to independently drive scientific projects forward

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in radioligand therapy development or radiobiology
• Strong understanding of drug development within oncology or related therapeutic areas

This is a dual level posting. The final level and title for this position will be determined following the completion of the candidate evaluation process, based on skills, experience, and organizational needs.

Switzerland 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 diversity.inclusion_ch@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Skills Desired: Analytical Skill, Analytical Thinking, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Collaboration, Communication Skills, Curious Mindset, Data, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Design Of Experiments, Detail-Oriented, Drug Development, Drug Discovery, Ethics, Gene Therapy- Leadership, Influence, Laboratory, Lifesciences, Machine Learning (ML), Medical Research, Mentorship