Principal Scientist - Materials Science

Why Patients Need You   

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best-in-class medicines to patients around the world.   

What You Will Achieve   

In this laboratory-based position, you will investigate and understand the solid form and particle properties of Pfizer’s drug molecules that will range from small molecules to “Beyond Rule of 5” candidates to peptides.  Your responsibilities include generating solid-state chemistry and particle characterization data using state-of-the-art instrumentation and computer models and interpreting the data to allow new medicines to be brought to the market.  You will serve on multidisciplinary project teams and will be responsible for defining the final drug substance form (salt/polymorph/hydrate) of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and the preferred physical attributes (particle shape/particle size/surface energy) needed for optimum API, drug product intermediate (DPI) and drug product performance.  

How You Will Achieve It   

• Participate on multidisciplinary project teams as the Materials Science Lead to advance molecules from Discovery to drug product launch by leading a matrix team of MatSci colleagues to define and implement solid form/particle design and characterization strategies according to project timelines. 

• Influence formulation design and drug product process development through integration of physical and surface characterization data for API and DPI powders of pharmaceutical relevance. 

• Crystallizing and screening neutral molecules, salt, and co-crystal forms of drug candidates (including hydrates, solvates and polymorphs) and evaluate these forms for acceptability as drug substances as it relates to chemical manufacturing and formulation into pharmaceutical products. 

• Conduct solid-state physical and chemical characterization of small molecules of pharmaceutical relevance.  This includes particle characterization (e.g., particle size, shape) and solid-state characterization (e.g., spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction,  X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis). 

• Apply state-of-the-art computational approaches to aide in designing experiments as well as predict both the solid form and particle crystalline properties and performance of drug substance and drug product intermediate samples. 

• Oversee the work of external partners conducting laboratory studies and provide tactical guidance and critical analysis of raw data. 

• Coach and mentor laboratory scientists in the design, execution, and analysis of materials science data. 

• Solve scientific problems using contemporary materials science experimental and computational techniques. 

• Draft and review sections of regulatory submissions and query responses as well as deliver reports to support patenting Pfizer’s intellectual property. 

• Provide materials science support for colleagues in other departments as well as collaborate with project teams in defining the drug development strategy. 

• Lead the development of new scientific approaches and knowledge within the global Materials Science organization as well as with key academic collaborators. 

Qualifications   

Must-Have   

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science, Pharmaceutics or related field and a minimum of 5 years of relevant materials science experience in industry OR relevant master’s degree with minimum of 10 years of relevant materials science experience. 
• Experience in small molecule crystallization and solid-state characterization (e.g., x-ray powder diffraction, polarized light microscopy, IR/Raman spectroscopy, laser diffraction techniques, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, NMR).  

• Experience with regulatory submissions and query responses related to solid form and particle characterization. 

• Strong data analysis skills and knowledge of statistical concepts.  

• A strong interest and motivation to learn new technologies and concepts.  

• Strong oral and written communication skills. 

Nice-to-Have 

• Experience with using contemporary computational approaches to predict the properties and performance of pharmaceutical materials. Specifically, applying state-of-the-art computational approaches (e.g., HABIT, Materials Studio, Mercury, CosmoTherm, SimCU) to predict the properties and performance of powder samples 

• Experience curating data to support developing predictive tools. 

• Experience in powder characterization (such as polarized light microscopy, electron microscopy, image analysis, laser diffraction methods, etc) and surface property testing (e.g., inverse gas chromatography, EDX, atomic force microscopy, etc) for fine powders.   

• Experience with using contemporary computational approaches to predict the properties and performance of pharmaceutical materials. 

• Understanding of the physical and chemical properties needed for drug substance and drug product intermediate manufacture as well as impact to successful formulation into drug product. 

Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact. 
  

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS 

None 

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS 

None 

Relocation support available 
 
Work Location Assignment: On Premise 

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $106,000.00 to $176,600.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 15.0% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.

Research and Development