Postdoctoral Researcher - Process Modeling and Optimization for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

About the role

Johnson & Johnson is looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow to advance modeling, simulation and optimization capabilities for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, the role sits at the intersection of process science, engineering, manufacturing and data analytics, applying Process Systems Engineering methods to real manufacturing challenges alongside teams in process development, manufacturing, automation and digital technology.

Key responsibilities

• Develop mechanistic, hybrid and data-informed models for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Design and implement dynamic simulations and digital twins to support process understanding and decision-making.
• Apply Process Systems Engineering methods: dynamic modeling, parameter estimation, process optimization, sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification.
• Build predictive models from experimental and manufacturing data and support process monitoring, process analytics and operational decision support.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers and manufacturing teams to turn process knowledge into deployable solutions.
• Contribute to scientific publications, patents and technology development, and help evaluate technologies that improve manufacturing performance and process robustness.

Required profile

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Process Systems Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in several of: dynamic process modeling, first-principles or mechanistic modeling, process simulation, mathematical optimization, parameter estimation, data analytics and statistical modeling.
• Preferred: experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, continuous manufacturing, process development, manufacturing sciences, process control, process monitoring, digital twins and advanced process analytics.
• Ideal candidate: strong engineering fundamentals and experience modeling physical process systems, able to translate scientific concepts into practical industrial applications.

Required skills

• Scientific programming in Python, MATLAB, Julia or similar platforms.
• Process simulation, mathematical optimization and parameter estimation.