Senior Scientist, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

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Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacometrics

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. 

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way. 

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Scientist, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology, to be located in Spring House, PA. This position requires you to be on site 5 days a week.

Purpose:

The QSP Senior Scientist will lead and apply mechanism-based PK/PD and Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) modeling to support translational and clinical drug development across multiple therapeutic areas. The role integrates modeling, simulation, and data-driven insights to guide dose selection, study design, and strategic decision-making across early and late-stage programs.

You will be responsible for:

Scientific Leadership & Modeling Excellence

• Lead development and application of QSP, PBPK, and PK/PD models to address critical drug discovery and development questions across stages
• Design and execute population PK/PD and mechanistic modeling strategies to inform clinical pharmacology plans and regulatory submissions
• Conduct exploratory modeling analyses with rapid turnaround to support high-impact decisions
• Demonstrate strong scientific rigor in model development, validation, interpretation, and communication of results

Translational Impact & Development Strategy

• Drive model-informed decision-making for study design, dose optimization (e.g., RP2D), and indication prioritization
• Contribute to clinical development strategies, including protocol design, modeling components in Phase 2/3 studies, and regulatory responses
• Provide mechanistic insights linking exposure-response relationships to clinical outcomes and formulation strategies

Emerging Modalities & Platform Innovation

The role will contribute to expanding QSP capabilities across advanced and complex biologics modalities, including:

• Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and next-generation conjugate platforms
• Bispecific and multispecific T-cell engagers and immune-targeting biologics
• Cell therapies (including ex vivo and in vivo approaches)
• Targeted protein degradation and novel platform therapeutics

• Supporting dose strategy, early asset evaluation, and platform modeling frameworks. Developing modeling approaches for next-generation therapeutic modalities and applying innovative computational approaches, including AI/ML-enabled workflows, to enhance modeling scalability and insight generation

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a key modeling representative on cross-functional teams spanning clinical pharmacology, translational medicine, discovery, and clinical development
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders, including CRO oversight and collaboration
• Provide scientific mentorship and technical guidance to junior scientists

Scientific Contribution & Innovation

• Contribute to methodological innovation and model-informed drug development (MIDD) strategies
• Establish scientific credibility through publications, presentations, and external engagement
• Advance internal modeling platforms and best practices to improve reproducibility and efficiency

Requirements/Qualifications:

Education:

• Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Systems Biology/Pharmacology, Mathematics, Engineering, or other disciplines related to quantitative pharmacology or equivalent, or expecting a Ph.D. degree in 3 months.

Required:

• Experience in using quantitative approach in describing biological systems and demonstrated ability to apply quantitative tools to enable rational and efficient drug development
• Excellent understanding of theory, principles, and statistical aspects of advanced mathematical modeling and simulation, including numerical methods, parameter estimation/optimization, and ordinary differential equations (ODEs), and how these can be applied in the development of complex models of biological pathways and systems
• Proficient in Matlab/Simbiology
• Self-motivated team player who excels in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary team environment
• Good oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with scientists in other disciplines with a positive, collegial and collaborative attitude.

Preferred:

• Experience in building, validating and using QSP models or deterministic models of biological pathways/systems to support basic science and/or translational clinical research strongly preferred
• Good understanding of the basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for conventional large and small molecule therapeutics as well as novel therapeutic modalities
• Familiarity with AI/ML-enabled modeling workflows or large-scale data integration approaches
• Experience with general programming and data analysis tools/languages such as R would be particularly desirable
• Strong publication records highly desirable
• Strong collaboration and communication skills in multidisciplinary environments
• Ability to independently lead projects while influencing broader team strategy
• Scientific curiosity and commitment to continuous innovation and learning

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

 

 

Required Skills:

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Analytical Reasoning, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Trials Operations, Coaching, Critical Thinking, Drug Discovery Development, Empowering People, Pharmacokinetic Modeling, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Program Management, Report Writing, Scientific Research, Technologically Savvy