Senior / Principal Scientist, Statistical Genetics
Novo Nordisk · Beijing
Senior / Principal Scientist, Statistical Genetics – Novo Nordisk Research Center China
AI & Digital Innovation/ Data Sciences/ Digital Biology/ Novo Nordisk Research Center China (NNRCC): Research Insights China
Are you motivated to shape target discovery and portfolio decisions through human genetics?
Do you thrive in an interdisciplinary research environment where you can build up new scientific capabilities leveraging global collaborations while influencing/driving early pipeline decisions? Are you passionate about translating human genetic evidence into actionable target and disease insights that accelerate drug discovery for patients with serious chronic diseases? If so, you could be our next Senior / Principal Scientist, Geneticist at Novo Nordisk Research Center China.
About NNRCC
Novo Nordisk Research Center China (NNRCC), founded in 1997, is the first R&D centre established by a multinational pharmaceutical company in China. NNRCC plays an integral role in Novo Nordisk’s global R&D organisation, leveraging strong connections with local academic, clinical, and innovation ecosystems to advance early discovery and translational research. Our ambition is to generate and progress high impact research projects that strengthens NN’s pipeline and improves patient outcomes in China and worldwide.
About the area & the Position
In AI & Digital Innovation (ADI), our vision is to accelerate drug discovery and development by embedding AI, digital science, and data at the core of R&D decision‑making and improve speed, precision, and productivity across the pipeline, ultimately serving patients in line with Novo Nordisk’s strategic goals. Within ADI, Digital Biology is the R&D expert function for genetics, computational biology, and clinical omics, driving best practices, scalable capabilities, and innovation to embed genetics and omics evidence into discovery and development decisions. At the Beijing site, Research Insights China (RIC) delivers high‑quality, high‑speed digital biology and data science analyses in direct support of NNRCC’s strategic objectives, acting as a local subject‑matter-expert hub while remaining closely aligned with global strategy and practice.
In this role within Research Insights China, you will apply comprehensive statistical genetics and multi‑omics analyses to support early discovery and target progression, with increasing ownership from high‑quality execution to end‑to‑end scientific leadership depending on experience. You will work across GWAS, WES/WGS, and integrative multi‑omics datasets, leveraging statistical genetics approaches to generate decision‑relevant insights. The role includes responsibility for leveraging global platforms and infrastructure while building local data and analytical capabilities, enabling site ‑specific genetics pipelines to be executed efficiently and reproducibly. As experience and influence grow, you will lead target‑focused analytical strategy, integrate genetics with proteomic, transcriptomic, and single‑cell data to establish mechanistic and causal evidence, and actively influence go/no‑go portfolio decisions. You will also have the opportunity to source, lead, and mature local cohort collaborations, with the longer term‑ goal of strengthening local human genetics capability and enabling sustained pipeline impact. Operating in close collaboration with experimental and computational teams, this position is suited for a scientist who combines analytical expertise, clear scientific communication, and cross functional collaboration, with the potential to grow into a role of strategic influence and scientific leadership within drug discovery research.
Key Responsibilities
- Co-Define and lead local statistical genetics strategy for early discovery and translational projects
- Design and execute population and statistical genetics analyses, leveraging biobanks, cohorts, and multi-ancestry datasets
- Integrate human genetics with patient-derived multi‑omics, functional assays, and disease models to generate mechanistic hypotheses and decision relevant‑ insights.
- Embed genetic evidence into target prioritisation and portfolio decision frameworks, clearly articulating strengths, limitations, and uncertainty.
- Build and scale local capability in human genetics (and potentially RWE), including methods, workflows, and scientific best practices, in alignment with global strategies.
- Partner closely with digital biology, target discovery and progression teams to guide target discovery program ideation to data package maturation towards pipeline project approval.
- Communicate complex scientific findings clearly and confidently to senior stakeholders, translating analyses into strategic recommendations.
- Contribute to scientific publications, internal knowledge sharing, and external visibility, strengthening NNRCC’s impact in the local and global ecosystem.
Requirements
- PhD in human genetics, statistical genetics, genomics, computational biology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, or a closely related field.
- Significant post‑PhD experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or translational research environments, with demonstrated impact on discovery or early development programmes.
- Knowledge and experience in GWAS, WGS/WES, Mendelian Randomization, fine mapping, rare variant analysis, colocalization, QTL integration and polygenic risk.
- Deep expertise in human genetics and population genomics, including experience with largescale human genetic datasets and post GWAS analyses.
- Understanding of how genetic evidence is used to de‑risk and prioritise drug targets across the discovery value chain is highly preferred.
- Proficiency in relevant analytical and programming environments (e.g. Python, R), with experience working on complex, high dimensional‑ biological data.
- Experience enabling secure, reproducible, and compliant data workflows while supporting efficient local scientific execution and portfolio delivery
- Ability to operate independently at a senior level, driving initiatives end-to-end and influencing cross‑functional teams without formal authority.
- Strong communication skills and a proven ability to engage and collaborate across disciplines and cultures. Fluent in English is a MUST.
Preferred Experience
- Experience integrating genetics with single-cell/spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and/or imaging data.
- Exposure to real-world‑ evidence (RWE), population health data, or causal inference frameworks (e.g. Mendelian randomisation).
- Proven experience in building or contributing to local data and analytical infrastructure, supporting genetics and multi-omics pipelines in a research or discovery setting
- Familiarity with machine learning or advanced data‑driven approaches applied to biological or clinical data.
- Track record of scientific creativity demonstrated through publications, novel project initiation, or cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Strong interest in capability building and scientific leadership within a growing research organisation.
Personal Attributes
- Impact driven and motivated by improving patient outcomes.
- Scientifically curious, rigorous, and comfortable working with ambiguity.
- Clear communicator who can bridge technical depth and strategic insight.
- Collaborative, inclusive, and able to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Humble, accountable, and eager to learn and grow with the organisation.
Why Join Novo Nordisk?
At Novo Nordisk, you will join a collaborative and purpose driven‑ research environment with the opportunity to shape high impact research projects, build new capabilities locally, and influence global discovery decisions. We offer a supportive culture that values scientific excellence, diversity and inclusion, and sustainable work–life balance — all while working toward our shared mission of improving the lives of patients with serious chronic diseases.
We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.
At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and preventing diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.