Senior Expert Science & Technology – Downstream Process Modelling

Summary

Location: Basel, Switzerland #onsite
Role Purpose:
As a Senior Expert Science & Technology in Downstream Process Development, you will play a key role in advancing model‑based development and decision making for biologics purification processes. You will develop, apply, and deploy mechanistic and hybrid models with a strong focus on chromatography, while also covering other downstream unit operations and their interconnection into integrated process flows.This role combines deep scientific expertise, hands‑on experimental work, and digital implementation. You will work closely with project teams, process development scientists, data scientists, and manufacturing stakeholders, and you will be an active member of a global modelling community shaping the future of downstream development at Novartis.

About the Role

In this role, you will:

• Develop and apply downstream process models for biologics, with a strong emphasis on
• chromatography (e.g. IEX, HIC, MMC, affinity) and their underlying physicochemical principles.
• Extend modelling approaches to other downstream unit operations (e.g. filtration, UF/DF, viral inactivation) and connect individual steps into integrated DSP models to support process understanding and optimization.
• Design, plan, and execute laboratory experiments to generate high‑quality data for model development, calibration, and validation, working hands‑on in the lab when required.
• Use modelling to support process design, scale‑up, troubleshooting, robustness studies, and decision making across early and late development.
• Implement and deploy models using Python, including development of user‑friendly tools or apps that enable broader adoption by project teams and stakeholders.
• Translate complex modelling results into clear, actionable insights for multidisciplinary audiences, including process scientists, project leaders, and management.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment between modelling activities, experimental work, and project objectives.
• Actively contribute to and help shape the global modelling community, sharing best practices, methodologies, and innovations across sites and functions.
• Contribute to scientific documentation, technical reports, and regulatory‑relevant deliverables as required.

What you will bring

Education & experience

• MSc, PhD, or equivalent experience in Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Several years of experience in biologics downstream process development, with demonstrated focus on process modelling.
• Strong, hands‑on expertise in chromatography, including mechanistic understanding of separation phenomena.

Technical expertise

• Proven experience in downstream process modelling, ideally including chromatography modelling, parameter estimation, scale‑down/scale‑up concepts, and integration of multiple unit operations.
• Ability to design and run experiments to support model development and validation.
• Strong programming skills in Python, with experience in building reusable tools, workflows, or applications for broader user groups.
• Familiarity with data analysis, visualization, and model deployment concepts is a strong advantage.