Postdoctoral Scholar Safety Pharmacology

Job title:

Postdoctoral Scholar Safety Pharmacology

Company

Johnson & Johnson

Job description

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 https://www.jnj.comJob Function:
Career ProgramsJob Sub Function:
Post Doc – Drug Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical DevelopmentJob Category:
Career ProgramAll Job Posting Locations:
Beerse, Antwerp, BelgiumJob Description:We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated postdoctoral scientist, with a fixed term of 2 years, o join the team of Global Safety Pharmacology located in Beerse, Belgium. The postdoctoral scientist will focus on de-risking drug-induced peripheral neuropathies (DIPNs) to support our drug discovery and development programs. The successful candidate will apply their expertise in neuroscience to establish translatable human in vitro models of peripheral neuropathies with robust read-outs for functional and molecular biomarkers of DIPNs and perform intricate data analyses. Responsibilities include experiments such as 2D co-culture of hiPSC-derived sensorimotor neurons and Schwann cells, multi-electrode array recordings, and various gene and protein expression analyses. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and a commitment to ethical research practices aligned with the 3Rs principles will be essential. Proficiency in English and strong communication skills will facilitate effective collaboration and dissemination of findings through scientific writing and presentations.Major Duties & Responsibilities

• Establishing in vitro platforms of drug-induced peripheral neuropathies (DIPNs) using co-culture models of hiPSC-derived peripheral neurons and human Schwann cells
• Identification, testing and validation of human-relevant biomarkers for DIPNs in the in-vitro platforms
• Define strategies whilst collaborating with cross-functional teams and establish in-vitro screening tools to assess DIPN liabilities
• Data analysis and reporting
• Development, training, conferences and writing scientific papers for publication in relevant journals

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Physiology, Cell Biology, or a relevant field focused on CNS and PNS safety pharmacology/toxicity
• In-depth knowledge and experience in the mechanisms of peripheral neuropathies (up to the molecular level), electrophysiology, and hiPSCs, with a proven track record
• Hands-on experience in the experimental techniques mentioned below

• hiPSC-derived sensory or motor neurons co-cultured with human Schwann cells (or other human glial cells) on microfluidic platforms (2D)
• Multi-electrode array recordings of neuronal activities
• Fluorescence staining and imaging (ICC and live imaging such as IncuCyte)
• Gene and protein expression analyses e.g., RT-qPCR, RNAscope, Western blot, and ELISA (MSD/Simoa)
• Functional and molecular biomarker identification and detection from various sample types in vitro (cells/extracts/culture media)
• Ability to analyze and interpret sophisticated datasets using Excel, GraphPad, Spotfire and other analysis software

• Excellent presentation skills
• Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to independently plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Commitment to ethical drug development aligned with the 3Rs principles
• Ability to proactively seek evolving scientific advances and incorporate innovative methods into DIPN liability assessment
• Proficient in writing scientific manuscripts
• Proficiency in English

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience in developing drug screening assays
• Experience in human Schwann cell cultures and maturations in vitro
• Experience in an in vitro model of neuromuscular junction
• Experience in recording axonal conductance in vitro and/or in vivo

Expected salary

Location

Beerse, Antwerpen

Job date

Wed, 28 May 2025 22:04:45 GMT

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