Research Scientist, Genetics Target Discovery

The position

We are looking for a Research Scientist to join our Genetics Target Discovery team, to implement cutting-edge human genetics insights to identify and validate drug targets for cardiometabolic and haematological diseases. In this role you will apply your expertise in genetic data analytics and interpretation of human genetics to identify novel targets. Through close collaboration with computational biologists and in vitro scientists, you will combine evidence from multiple sources to identify biological targets and pathways. You will be expected to analyse genetic data, lead projects, and regularly coordinate with interdisciplinary project teams and experts from diverse subject areas as well as external partners. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with human genetics knowledge applied in a drug discovery setting.

This position will be located in Copenhagen, Denmark or Oxford, UK.

Main responsibilities include:

• Providing human genetic support to project teams responsible for the identification of novel drug targets.
• Working as part of interdisciplinary teams tasked with driving forward novel targets into the pipeline.
• Using genetic data with other omics - proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and epigenetics - to better understand disease biology.
• Analysing and interpreting complex genetic and genomic data from multiple sources.
• Organising own daily work and make independent decisions related to research activities.
• Ensuring all research is conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines and regulations and maintain accurate and complete records of all findings and methodologies.
• Effective communication of complex scientific ideas and data to a variety of audiences.

The Human Genetics Centre of Excellence (CoE) is part of a collaborative endeavour where you will work alongside statistical geneticists, clinicians, and computational and laboratory scientists from across the organisation, and with external collaborators, to help get the right treatment to the right patient.

We welcome candidates with a good team ethic, who pay close attention to detail, enjoy a fast paced, dynamic environment where creative intellectual independence and knowledge sharing is actively encouraged. Most importantly, you must have a strong interest in applying your skills in the field of drug development.

Qualifications

A successful candidate holds a Ph.D. in human genetics, statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology, or other related fields. They will have experience with approaches for variant-trait and gene-trait association (including GWAS, PheWAS, TWAS, QTL mapping, Mendelian randomization, familial genetic studies). Previous experience in handling omics data (e.g. transcriptomics, proteomics) would be considered an advantage.

You will show experience and knowledge of:

• Data-driven methods to identify and characterise genetic associations with disease.
• Communicating insights and presenting concepts to a diverse audience.

• Understanding of cardiometabolic and/or haematological diseases e.g. obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
• Working in high performance computing environment using tools such as R and Python.
• Human genetics applied in a drug discovery setting.

On a personal level, we are hoping to welcome candidate who is an enthusiastic team player, able to motivate other colleagues and drive processes. Someone, who is self-driven, with business mindset, diligently reaching goals in constructive collaboration with colleagues and external stakeholders, and able to communicate the research outcome to different audiences.

About the department

You will be a member of our Genetics Target Discovery team led by Ciara Vangjeli, which is part of the Human Genetics CoE led by Vice President, Joanna Howson. The focus of the CoE is to use data science and human genetics to discover and develop new drug targets and biomarkers through a range of human centric data approaches e.g. high-throughput genetic discovery screens; Mendelian randomization; pLoF variant screens and precision medicine approaches relevant to obesity, type 2 diabetes, CVD, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and rare endocrine and blood disorders.

The CoE is anchored in the newly established Digital Science & Innovation (DSI) organisation within Research & Early Development at Novo Nordisk. DSI is supporting the digital journey across all our therapy areas in R&ED. In DSI, we work in multidisciplinary teams in strong collaboration with all areas across R&ED and R&ED IT. We participate in drug development projects across the value chain, from early discovery to pre-clinical development. We engage in external collaborations to ensure access to the latest research and technology enablers, and we automate our labs and processes, and we focus on developing and retaining top talent.

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, we use our skills, dedication, and ambition to help people with diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases. We offer the chance to be part of a truly global workplace, where passion and engagement are met with opportunities for professional and personal development. We are a proud life-science company, and life is our reason to exist. We’re inspired by life in all its forms and shapes, ups and downs, opportunities, and challenges. For employees at Novo Nordisk, life means many things – from the building blocks of life that form the basis of ground-breaking scientific research, to our rich personal lives that motivate and energise us to perform our best at work. Ultimately, life is why we’re all here - to ensure that people can lead a life independent of chronic disease.

Contact

For questions regarding the role, please reach out to the Senior Director of Genetics Target Discovery, Ciara Vangjeli at cavj@novonordisk.com

Deadline

Please apply before 15th April 2024

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. 

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.