Postdoctorate, Research and Development

Position Title: Postdoctorate (Research and Development)

Reports to: Formulation Scientist

Location: JLABS, Washington, DC and hybrid

About Nostopharma:

Web Address: www.nostopharma.com 

Nostopharma is a preclinical stage pharmaceutical innovator developing treatments to address unmet needs in musculo-skeletal health: rare disease, posttraumatic recovery and autoimmunity (example: ankylosing spondylitis). According to WHO, approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide have musculoskeletal conditions. The company's first product - NP102nano - is an injectable drug combination for localized and sustained delivery to prevent pathologic bone growth (PBG): a life-long morbidity that leads to persistent pain without immediate treatment. 

In the next decade, Nostopharma’s technology and approach to product development will pave the way to how the medicine is practiced and healthcare system functions for the patients with musculoskeletal issues. Nostopharma’s pipeline carries the promise of patient-centered care to be achieved by taking a strong interest in the patient's own experience of health, illness, injury, or need. Nostopharma is working to initiate AI-equipped patient registries to enable data-driven decision-making with the patient involvement.  

Longitudinal data collection and feedback loop to augment clinical care with real-world evidence, will propel Nostopharma’s new cost-effective treatment modalities. 

Position Summary:

Nostopharma is seeking a Postdoc to join our Nanoformulation Unit for comprehensive training in nanoscience applications for clinical medicine. This candidate will be part of the team screening and developing  nanoformulations and characterization protocols, as well as pilot manufacturing methods, for Nostopharma’s pipeline of small Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients with various chemical and physical properties. Successful candidate will develop assays, methodologies and generate pre-GMP batches of material to support company's in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical studies. We are searching for a driven, enthusiastic, and self-motivated individual who is comfortable multitasking and working independently on various aspects of the platform. This individual will join a dynamic, rapidly growing, and highly collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work both independently and as part of a collaborative team to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Nanoparticle formulation: Preparation of polymeric nanoparticles using single emulsion (O/W) and double emulsion (W/O/W) techniques. 
• Hydrogel preparation & optimization: Development of in-situ gelling platforms using various mixing methods to enhance controlled drug release. Assessment of gelation behavior at various temperatures and mechanical properties 
• Nanoparticle characterization: Measurement of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), surface charge (zeta potential), and drug loading using analytical techniques. 
• Dissolution studies: Conducting in-vitro release studies using dialysis methods to evaluate drug release kinetics from nanoparticles and hydrogels. 
• Stability studies: Long-term and accelerated stability testing of nanoparticles, monitoring changes in size, charge, and drug release over time. 
• New formulations: Exploring new formulation strategies to improve drug solubility, loading efficiency, and sustained release profiles. 
• Documentation: Extensive data processing using Excel and other software tools for regulatory and scientific reporting. Postdoc will also contribute to scientific discussions and new platform development. 
• Adhere to all laboratory safety requirements and procedures

Key Qualifications:

• PhD in Chemistry, Nanochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Material Science, Data Science or closely related field with minimum one year of bench or lab experience with nanoformulation science (research or post-doc experience as acceptable) with diploma by May 1, 2025 required

Nostopharma is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

JLABS and Company overview: 

Nostopharma is a company incubated in JLABS Washington DC and the benefit of being onsite includes being part of the 32,000-square foot facility is located at the new Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus, home of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus. The collaboration marks the second time the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and Children’s National have teamed up. In addition, located in close proximity to federal research institutions and agencies, universities, and academic research centers, the state-of-the-art Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS @  Washington, DC site is open to entrepreneurs, innovators and startups focused on innovation across the healthcare spectrum. 

How to apply: 

Please submit your resume and cover letter to katyav@nostopharma.com

This position is sponsored by IPERF and NSF (National Science Foundation) program funding