Senior Scientist Quantitative Biology

Certara accelerates medicines using state-of-the-art biosimulation software, technology, and services to transform traditional drug discovery and development. Its clients include more than 2,000 biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies across 62 countries.

The Certara Applied BioSimulation (ABS) group is a global organization focused on the impactful application of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) and mechanistic pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modeling and simulation in drug discovery and development. We are the largest QSP group in the industry and our portfolio continuous to grow rapidly.

We are seeking a Quantitative Biologist to work in cross-functional teams across a variety of projects. In this role, you will work closely on projects with internal and external client teams to provide biological expertise and strategic guidance for the development and application of mathematical models. Your work will address questions, such as:

• How can modeling simulations inform drug design, pre-clinical study design, clinical trial design, or clinical data interpretation?
• How can a qualitative understanding of a biological process be represented quantitatively?
• What assumptions are appropriate to enable modeling?
• How do the literature and client generated data relate to each other?
• How can a critical parameter be inferred if it was not measured directly?
• How best to interpret modeling results for the most sound conclusions?

The ideal candidate will take initiative to create new science that helps drive drug development decisions. In addition, the ideal candidate loves to learn, lead, and challenge themselves and others.

• Run biosimulation-based projects in a non-coding software, or supervise those that do. Use these results to impact drug program decisions in collaboration with customers.
• Provide biological expertise for customer projects and internal R&D
• Demonstrate clear understanding of customer goals and work effectively toward achieving them
• Communicate simulation results in the context of drug development and discovery
• Review published and customer data to understand disease biology, drug properties, mechanism of action, pharmacology
• Assess technical quality and utility of client and literature-derived data to support the modeling strategy
• Carefully track the sources and scientific rationale for model input parameters in collaboration with modelers and other team members
• In a dry-lab setting, stay abreast of key developments in disease biology, molecular/cell biology techniques and in drug discovery and development

• PhD or MD (or MS with equivalent experience) in biology, immunology, systems biology, biochemistry or related field
• 3-5 years of research experience, preferably in biotech/pharma industry
• Experience with biophysical, biochemical, molecular, and cell biological methods
• Drug discovery, translational research, or clinical development experience a plus
• Ability to approach biological problems from a quantitative perspective and to think critically about model inputs and outputs
• Ability to quickly learn new areas of biology through reading the literature
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams
• Knowledge of preclinical or clinical pharmacology
• Experience with mathematical modeling or systems biology is a plus
• Record of scientific achievement through peer-reviewed publications, invited oral presentations, or patents

Certara bases all employment-related decision on merit, taking into consideration qualifications, skills, achievement, and performance. We treat all applicants and employees without regard to personal characteristics such as race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental condition, genetic information, military service, or other characteristic protected by law.