Principal Scientist, Material Characterization

Site Name: USA - Pennsylvania - Upper Providence

Posted Date: Feb 2 2026

Principal Scientist, Material Characterization

Onsite role based in Upper Providence, PA

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Find out more: Our approach to R&D

As a member of Pharmaceutical Science, you will use your materials characterization knowledge and expertise to provide holistic understanding of the relationship between crystal structure and powder properties for drug product manufacture and contribute to the development and deployment of state-of-the-art methodologies and technologies to enable the delivery of our medicines. Materials Science supports the small molecule portfolio in GSK Pharma R&D. The environment is highly technical and dynamic as you will be collaborating across multi-disciplinary project teams. You will thrive in this environment if you are able to effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks, communicate your recommendations clearly, and if you are a team player who enjoys working in diverse multi-disciplinary teams.

This is a fast-paced and dynamic role where you will combine the information generated in laboratory studies with your strong knowledge of physical characterization to identify the critical attributes towards the development of sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing routes and processes. This role in particular will be key in supporting the development of long-acting injectable suspensions and solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Propose, initiate and implement improvements in routes, processes, material physical attributes or technologies to meet project objectives.
• Design, execute and influence (appropriate to grade) scientific work to meet the project timelines and objectives (e.g., selection of API version and form, conception and realization of viable new synthetic routes, design and scale up of unit operations such as crystallization and isolation, formulation development, process transfer to commercial facilities, implementation of new technology or delivery of a suitable control strategy that includes the identification of key physical materials attributes).
• Provide technical oversight of work (as necessary) performed at CROs.
• Ensures that experimental work is interpreted and communicated to high standards of quality and effectiveness. Present effectively at internal R&D meetings.
• Ensure appropriate scientific peer review and relevant technical oversight is in place throughout development. Identify and escalate physical drug substance and drug product risks at scientific reviews and through relevant technical and project oversight panels.
• Participate in technology transfer activities as appropriate to Global Supply Chain, other parts of R&D, and partner CMOs.
• Author or contribute to regulatory submissions (including review and approval of data used therein) and approve regulatory submissions if required when delegated by director.
• Ensure appropriate quality and compliance activities are satisfactorily performed when executing work internally or at a CMO.

Basic Qualifications:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• B.S. (+6 years of experience), MS (+4 years of experience, or PhD (+0 years of experience in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Pharmaceutics or related discipline.
• Three or more years of experience with multiple physical and solid-state characterization techniques (such as x-ray powder diffraction, particle size techniques, rheology, thermal characterization, microscopy, micro-computed tomography).
• Three or more years of experience in independent planning and execution of experiments.
• Three or more years of experience in independent interpretation of analytical data.

Preferred Qualifications:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or related discipline.
• Experience with the physical characterization of suspension formulations.
• Experience with particle sizing of materials 1-5um or with broad distributions.

#Li-GSK

Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [email protected] where you can also request a call.

Please note should your inquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

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