Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow Neuronal Aging

This applied research program is designed to change the way we approach drug discovery. As a fellow, you will learn to apply your skills to make a difference for patients and reimagine medicine at Novartis.

Drug hunting is a team sport, and you will gain experience in drug discovery as part of a multidisciplinary team in Biomedical Research. Seize this chance to be at the forefront of the future of drug discovery!

As part of the Innovation Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will join our vibrant, dedicated postdoctoral community for events, including the monthly postdoc seminars and other scheduled events for postdocs. Fellows are surrounded by a supportive, collaborative community of postdocs and scientists, who would contribute to the acceleration of your scientific growth, along with building your professional skillset, e.g. you will have the opportunity to do a Postdoc Practicum in another laboratory or in a business function of Novartis. This applied research program has a duration of 3 years.
Current human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)- and embryonic stem cell (ES)-derived neurons are inherently immature, limiting their ability to model disease-relevant phenotypes, particularly in age-related disorders. Overcoming this challenge by enhancing maturation and introducing aging
components is critical for creating more accurate and effective models of neurodegenerative diseases.
Developing these advanced systems is essential, as the aging component is a key driver of these conditions and remains absent from current in-vitro models.

The two goals of this innovation postdoc are:
1) How to drive these patient-derived induced neuronal cells to full maturity?
2) How to accelerate aging of these mature neurons to resemble neurodegenerative disease-like states?
Through the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will build your competency as a drug hunter, and as a scientific leader in the field. You will join a professional network that will support your growth as a research scientist, and you will have the opportunity to tackle disease and make an impact, by reimagining medicine together.

Preferred start date: October 2025

Location: Campus Basel

Key responsibilities
As an Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:
• Work independently as well as with interdisciplinary teams.
Design and execute experiments related to neuron aging, including data collection,
analysis, and interpretation.
• Through literature approaches, identify suitable protocols to develop an innovative new approach for iPSC maturation and driving aging.
• Establish a fast cycle time to test and optimize new protocol ideas.
• Establish benchmark experiments to validate maturity and aging of neuronal system.

Role requirements:
• PhD in molecular biology, neuroscience, tissue engineering, or a related field

• Note that PhD students in the last year of their thesis work are eligible to apply. Applicants are only eligible to apply up to 2 years from the date of receiving their PhD (i.e. PhD degrees must have been awarded May 2023 or later).

• Experience in neuronal cell culturing, iPSC, complex in-vitro systems, cellular aging.
• Strong publication record or other scientific achievements (i.e. awards, patents, grants)
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation and organizational skills
• Passion for fundamental exploratory research and boundless curiosity
• A tinkering mindset

How to apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter by September 1st, 2025, for consideration. Please make sure to discuss in the cover letter how this training program will help you fulfill your career goals.

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 [email protected], and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.