The Novartis Biomedical Research unit, in collaboration with MCPHS, offers a unique fellowship program to promote the role of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) within the biopharmaceutical industry. A fellow gains extensive experiences through various practical activities in both industry and academic settings, which could enhance the potential for accelerated career development.

View the Novartis Brochure or more information, or visit http://www.mcphs.edu/pharmdfellow for general program information. In addition, see all of our Novartis and other MCPHS Fellowship Program offerings here.

Biomarker Development (BMD) Fellowship Overview**: 

The BMD department in Translational Medicine delivers integrated biomarker plans using diverse expertise and knowledge in genetics, genomics, imaging, protein and cellular biology, human tissue research, vendor scientific monitoring, statistics, bioinformatics, digital endpoints, patient centric sampling and study coordination.

Biomarker solutions are critical in clinical development to: define the stage/subtype of the disease; predict the effect of medication; select a group of patients who would benefit most from a given therapy; and identify opportunities for development of companion diagnostics. Our scientists identify and use a wide range of biomarkers to investigate a disease, profile a compound’s mechanism of action, potency and likely side effects, select patients who may respond to therapy based on their genetic profile; and develop parallel/expanded indications for the compound.

Our fellow will learn to:
• Represent BMD on clinical trial teams, work with Biomarker Experts and Clinical Trial Leaders to develop biomarker plans for implementation in clinical studies
• Gain familiarity with innovative biomarker technologies used in clinical research
• Develop relevant study documentation, including clinical protocol biomarker sections, lab manuals, informed consent forms, and biomarker study budgets
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues related to biomarker samples in ongoing clinical trials
• Acquire knowledge of potential ethical issues related to biomarker sample collection and analysis, and devise solutions that satisfy both ethical concerns and study objectives
• Lead and contribute to process improvement projects, technology evaluations, and other initiatives across Novartis’ research sites

**Recruitment for this position will be entirely remote.

Application Procedure

To be considered for an interview, please complete a fellowship application on the MCPHS SMApply application portal. Visit https://mcphs.smapply.io/

Please DO NOT request an interview within PPS. Our recruitment teams will contact qualified candidates via email to schedule interviews. 

The MCPHS application portal will open up on October 2, 2023. Applicants must upload the following application materials to the online portal by November 17, 2023:

• Letter of intent
• Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial college transcript
• Contact information for three references. References will receive an electronic recommendation form to complete separately.

Incomplete applications WILL NOT be reviewed. Interviews CANNOT be scheduled until these materials have been submitted. Please keep in mind that this is a competitive process and applicants are encouraged to complete their applications as soon as possible. 

Recommendations

Three recommendation evaluation forms must be submitted no later than November 27, 2023, via the online portal. This is NOT a letter of recommendation but an online form that the reference will need to complete.

Rolling Application Review & Interviews

All submitted applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews will also be offered on a rolling basis and opportunities are limited. Priority will be given to those applicants who apply early, well in advance of the deadline. Recruitment for this position will be entirely remote.

Offer Dates

Recognizing that the choice of a Post-Doctoral Industry Fellowship is an important decision, MCPHS in conjunction with the Academic Industry Fellowship Alliance (AIFA), has agreed to extend offers for Fellowships no earlier than December 13, 2023.

Onboarding

Final candidates will be required to go through additional screening / onboarding as required by MCPHS.

Eligibility

The MCPHS Biopharmaceutical Industry fellows will be selected on a nationally competitive basis. Applicants must have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy at the commencement of the program.

• Candidates must have strong written and verbal communication skills and a strong interest in pursuing a career within the biopharmaceutical industry.
• All candidates must have authorization to work in the United States throughout the duration of the one or two year fellowship. No visa sponsorship will be provided (i.e., TN, H-1B, STEM OPT, etc.).

Visit our website for more information: http://www.mcphs.edu/pharmdfellow

About MCPHS/Novartis

The Novartis Biomedical Research unit is the innovation engine of Novartis. We collaborate across scientific and organizational boundaries, with a focus on powerful new technologies that have the potential to help produce therapeutic breakthroughs for patients. The Novartis global clinical pipeline includes more than 200 projects and over 500 clinical trials. Within Novartis Biomedical Research, we have more than 5,600 dedicated scientists and physicians, working across 6 global campuses.

Connections working at MCPHS/Novartis