Novo Nordisk A/S
Oxford, Oxfordshire
Principal Automation Scientist, In Vitro Cell based Screening and Mechanistic Profiling Category: Research Location: Oxford, South East, GB This role isn't just about doing science - it's about reinventing how it's done. As a subject matter expert you will lead initiatives to transform functional genomics and cell based screening through automation and application of digital tools, turning in vitro discovery into a smarter, faster engine for breakthrough targets. Your new role As a Principal Automation Scientist in the In Vitro Discovery & Delivery (IDD) department, you will define and deploy automation solutions and implement digital applications to accelerate data generation for in vitro functional genomics, cell based screening, and large scale mechanistic profiling. You will lead the design, deployment and adoption of automated solutions tailored to complex in vitro cell based workflows, drive the choice and use of digital data applications and FAIR aligned practices to scale throughput, and ensure reproducibility for predictive target discovery across the IDD team based in Oxford. You will be instrumental in the team's ability to generate high quality multi modal datasets to improve the probability of success for novel targets and pipeline projects, supporting more informed target nominations and de risking portfolio decisions. Your responsibilities will include: Strategic leadership: Define roadmaps and cross functional programs to transform in vitro target discovery through automation, advanced data capture and multi omic integration. Automation & digital systems: Evaluate and implement scalable, production ready solutions (robotics, LIMS/ELN integrations, data and imaging pipelines) to standardise experimental execution and data capture. FAIR data & tooling: Drive enterprise adoption of FAIR principles; set metadata, data model and standards and champion data provenance and accessibility. Advanced analysis & ML: Oversee statistical frameworks, scalable analysis pipelines and fuel machine learning models with data for predictive target discovery; ensure validation, explainability and deployment. Stakeholder engagement: Act as senior partner to Target Discovery, Functional Genomics, Technology Leaders, Digital Biology, Biology AI, IDD US and Novo Nordisk automation engineers; build external collaborations with vendors, CROs, academia and industry partners. Your new department The In Vitro Discovery & Delivery (IDD) department, based at Novo Nordisk Research Centre in Oxford is part of Novo Nordisk Global Research. As a state of the art target discovery and validation research department, it is responsible for identifying novel targets with mechanisms of action for diseases aligned with Novo Nordisk therapy area priorities. The centre uses innovative and unbiased in silico and in vitro human centric collaborative approaches to identify new therapeutic opportunities for type 2 diabetes and obesity, and their associated cardiometabolic co morbidities including MASH, and cardiovascular disease. The department also drives productive collaborations with academia (particularly the University of Oxford) and biotechnology partners. The In Vitro Science team is part of a global organisation, including a team based at the Novo Nordisk research centre in Boston. Together, we work closely with our therapy area partners in the Global Research in Boston and Denmark to progress novel targets into Novo Nordisk's early project pipeline. Your skills & qualifications PhD or MSc in life sciences, computational biology, or related field. Extensive experience with medium to high throughput in vitro functional genomics and cell based screening, automation and digital workflows. Proven track record implementing FAIR data practices and deploying digital tools to support data analytics at scale, ensuring future proof data usage. Strong coding, data engineering and automation platform experience; familiarity with cloud/ML pipelines desirable. Outstanding communication abilities and effective interpersonal collaboration skills. Working at Novo Nordisk Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job - you're becoming part of a story that spans generations. Deadline 13th February 2026. 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're 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 preventing 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.
Principal Automation Scientist, In Vitro Cell based Screening and Mechanistic Profiling Category: Research Location: Oxford, South East, GB This role isn't just about doing science - it's about reinventing how it's done. As a subject matter expert you will lead initiatives to transform functional genomics and cell based screening through automation and application of digital tools, turning in vitro discovery into a smarter, faster engine for breakthrough targets. Your new role As a Principal Automation Scientist in the In Vitro Discovery & Delivery (IDD) department, you will define and deploy automation solutions and implement digital applications to accelerate data generation for in vitro functional genomics, cell based screening, and large scale mechanistic profiling. You will lead the design, deployment and adoption of automated solutions tailored to complex in vitro cell based workflows, drive the choice and use of digital data applications and FAIR aligned practices to scale throughput, and ensure reproducibility for predictive target discovery across the IDD team based in Oxford. You will be instrumental in the team's ability to generate high quality multi modal datasets to improve the probability of success for novel targets and pipeline projects, supporting more informed target nominations and de risking portfolio decisions. Your responsibilities will include: Strategic leadership: Define roadmaps and cross functional programs to transform in vitro target discovery through automation, advanced data capture and multi omic integration. Automation & digital systems: Evaluate and implement scalable, production ready solutions (robotics, LIMS/ELN integrations, data and imaging pipelines) to standardise experimental execution and data capture. FAIR data & tooling: Drive enterprise adoption of FAIR principles; set metadata, data model and standards and champion data provenance and accessibility. Advanced analysis & ML: Oversee statistical frameworks, scalable analysis pipelines and fuel machine learning models with data for predictive target discovery; ensure validation, explainability and deployment. Stakeholder engagement: Act as senior partner to Target Discovery, Functional Genomics, Technology Leaders, Digital Biology, Biology AI, IDD US and Novo Nordisk automation engineers; build external collaborations with vendors, CROs, academia and industry partners. Your new department The In Vitro Discovery & Delivery (IDD) department, based at Novo Nordisk Research Centre in Oxford is part of Novo Nordisk Global Research. As a state of the art target discovery and validation research department, it is responsible for identifying novel targets with mechanisms of action for diseases aligned with Novo Nordisk therapy area priorities. The centre uses innovative and unbiased in silico and in vitro human centric collaborative approaches to identify new therapeutic opportunities for type 2 diabetes and obesity, and their associated cardiometabolic co morbidities including MASH, and cardiovascular disease. The department also drives productive collaborations with academia (particularly the University of Oxford) and biotechnology partners. The In Vitro Science team is part of a global organisation, including a team based at the Novo Nordisk research centre in Boston. Together, we work closely with our therapy area partners in the Global Research in Boston and Denmark to progress novel targets into Novo Nordisk's early project pipeline. Your skills & qualifications PhD or MSc in life sciences, computational biology, or related field. Extensive experience with medium to high throughput in vitro functional genomics and cell based screening, automation and digital workflows. Proven track record implementing FAIR data practices and deploying digital tools to support data analytics at scale, ensuring future proof data usage. Strong coding, data engineering and automation platform experience; familiarity with cloud/ML pipelines desirable. Outstanding communication abilities and effective interpersonal collaboration skills. Working at Novo Nordisk Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job - you're becoming part of a story that spans generations. Deadline 13th February 2026. 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're 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 preventing 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 A/S
Hackney, London
Your new role As (Principal) Lead Scientist, you will perform cutting edge analyses of cellular phenotype data derived from ultra-high throughput genetic and compound screens to identify new drug targets for cardiometabolic disease. You will have direct impact on our early pipeline and lead the scientific deliveries from our flagship genome-scale in vitro perturbation screens producing high content imaging and functional genomics data and help us translate these into compelling drug projects. This is a senior scientific role in which you will have the opportunity to have major impact on our early pipeline and engage directly with senior therapy area disease experts, computational biologists, and engineering teams. Responsibilities Your responsibilities will include: Scientific leadership and execution of high value AI and data analysis projects for target discovery Translation of ultra high throughput in vitro screening analysis results/insights into drug target candidates and pipeline projects Systems biology guided interrogation of high dimensional cell painting embeddings & omics (incl. DRUG-seq/perturb-seq) data derived from genetic & chemical perturbations Keep pace with cutting edge biology focused AI methods and contribute to the development of internal evaluations/benchmarks to keep our models focused on value to our discovery pipeline Develop collaborative and strategic relationships with key stakeholders in our therapy areas to ensure alignment with the global Novo Nordisk drug discovery strategy and portfolio Provide input to our overall systems biology strategy, including scientific direction and implementation The role requires up to 10% overnight travel, potentially international. Your new department You will join the BioAI department, part of AI and Digital Innovation in Research & Development (R&D). BioAI is a global department with colleagues in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Our scientists have significant expertise across a diverse set of disciplines in machine learning, graph data science, computer vision, and agentic reasoning, all applied to impacting early target discovery. Driving data first decision making in our R&D pipeline is a key objective for BioAI as we seek to strengthen the Novo Nordisk portfolio and deliver new medicines for patients across our core cardiometabolic disease areas. Your skills & qualifications To succeed in the role, we expect you to have: Master's degree is a must, and PhD is strongly preferred in cellular/molecular/computational biology or similar preferably combined with several years of experience in a pharma/tech bio context Scientific leadership experience in cross functional teams with a track record of progressing novel biological hypotheses, ideally focused on drug target identification within a pharma industry context Experience applying cutting edge AI and systems biology methods to generate, analyse, and interpret high dimensional datasets, preferably from HCI/omics data on in vitro genetic/compound screens Independence and motivation to perform in depth biology focused data analysis and work with project and leadership teams to progress targets Experience working in Python/R to curate and analyse data Experience in CMD relevant cellular/molecular biology is an advantage Excellent written and oral communication skills, detail oriented with strong presentation and documentation skills Working at Novo Nordisk Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job - you're becoming part of a story that spans generations. What we offer There is, of course, more on offer here than the uniqueness of our culture and the extraordinary results we produce. Being part of a global healthcare company means opportunities to learn and develop are all around us, while our benefits are designed with your career and life stage in mind. Application Support We are an equal opportunities employer, and we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. If you're a person with a disability, if you're neurodivergent, and need any adjustments to be made during the application and selection process, please send an email to . Please include your name, the role you are interested in and the type of adjustment your need. More information For further information, please reach out to Robert Kitchen, Head of BioAI at Deadline 1 February 2026 (Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis). 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 preventing 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.
Your new role As (Principal) Lead Scientist, you will perform cutting edge analyses of cellular phenotype data derived from ultra-high throughput genetic and compound screens to identify new drug targets for cardiometabolic disease. You will have direct impact on our early pipeline and lead the scientific deliveries from our flagship genome-scale in vitro perturbation screens producing high content imaging and functional genomics data and help us translate these into compelling drug projects. This is a senior scientific role in which you will have the opportunity to have major impact on our early pipeline and engage directly with senior therapy area disease experts, computational biologists, and engineering teams. Responsibilities Your responsibilities will include: Scientific leadership and execution of high value AI and data analysis projects for target discovery Translation of ultra high throughput in vitro screening analysis results/insights into drug target candidates and pipeline projects Systems biology guided interrogation of high dimensional cell painting embeddings & omics (incl. DRUG-seq/perturb-seq) data derived from genetic & chemical perturbations Keep pace with cutting edge biology focused AI methods and contribute to the development of internal evaluations/benchmarks to keep our models focused on value to our discovery pipeline Develop collaborative and strategic relationships with key stakeholders in our therapy areas to ensure alignment with the global Novo Nordisk drug discovery strategy and portfolio Provide input to our overall systems biology strategy, including scientific direction and implementation The role requires up to 10% overnight travel, potentially international. Your new department You will join the BioAI department, part of AI and Digital Innovation in Research & Development (R&D). BioAI is a global department with colleagues in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Our scientists have significant expertise across a diverse set of disciplines in machine learning, graph data science, computer vision, and agentic reasoning, all applied to impacting early target discovery. Driving data first decision making in our R&D pipeline is a key objective for BioAI as we seek to strengthen the Novo Nordisk portfolio and deliver new medicines for patients across our core cardiometabolic disease areas. Your skills & qualifications To succeed in the role, we expect you to have: Master's degree is a must, and PhD is strongly preferred in cellular/molecular/computational biology or similar preferably combined with several years of experience in a pharma/tech bio context Scientific leadership experience in cross functional teams with a track record of progressing novel biological hypotheses, ideally focused on drug target identification within a pharma industry context Experience applying cutting edge AI and systems biology methods to generate, analyse, and interpret high dimensional datasets, preferably from HCI/omics data on in vitro genetic/compound screens Independence and motivation to perform in depth biology focused data analysis and work with project and leadership teams to progress targets Experience working in Python/R to curate and analyse data Experience in CMD relevant cellular/molecular biology is an advantage Excellent written and oral communication skills, detail oriented with strong presentation and documentation skills Working at Novo Nordisk Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job - you're becoming part of a story that spans generations. What we offer There is, of course, more on offer here than the uniqueness of our culture and the extraordinary results we produce. Being part of a global healthcare company means opportunities to learn and develop are all around us, while our benefits are designed with your career and life stage in mind. Application Support We are an equal opportunities employer, and we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. If you're a person with a disability, if you're neurodivergent, and need any adjustments to be made during the application and selection process, please send an email to . Please include your name, the role you are interested in and the type of adjustment your need. More information For further information, please reach out to Robert Kitchen, Head of BioAI at Deadline 1 February 2026 (Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis). 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 preventing 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.