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Phd Drug Development Scientist Jobs in Reston, VA

AstraZeneca

Senior Scientist - Evinova

Gaithersburg, MD · Hybrid

$98K - $135K/yr

If you're passionate about advancing oncology drug development, consider joining us as a Senior Scientist in Clinical Outcomes Assessment (COA) Measurement Science. In this role, you'll apply your ...

MSD

Director, Scientific Affairs

Rockville, MD · On-site +1

$174K - $272K/yr

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, Pharm. D.) in a biological sciences discipline * Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharma or biotech, leading drug development projects KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ...

MSD

Director, Scientific Affairs

Rockville, MD · On-site +1

$174K - $272K/yr

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, Pharm. D.) in a biological sciences discipline * Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharma or biotech, leading drug development projects KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ...

Fladger Associates

Senior Scientist

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$98K - $135K/yr

The group plays an integral part in the design and development of patient centric drug products ... Experience: * BS, MS, or PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering ...

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How much do phd drug development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for phd drug development scientist in Reston, VA is $40.22, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.52 and $48.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a PhD drug development scientist do?

A PhD Drug Development Scientist is responsible for researching, designing, and conducting experiments to develop new pharmaceutical drugs or improve existing ones. They typically work in laboratories within pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, or academic institutions. Their work involves understanding disease mechanisms, identifying drug targets, optimizing drug candidates, and ensuring safety and efficacy through preclinical and clinical trials. They also analyze data, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and comply with regulatory standards throughout the drug development process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a PhD drug development scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a PhD Drug Development Scientist, you need deep expertise in pharmacology, biochemistry, and molecular biology, typically backed by a doctoral degree in a relevant scientific field. Familiarity with laboratory techniques, data analysis software, and regulatory documentation systems is crucial, as are certifications like Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) or Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Strong analytical thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and effective collaboration and communication skills help you navigate complex research and multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure rigorous scientific discovery, regulatory compliance, and successful advancement of drug candidates from research through clinical development.

What are some common challenges faced by PhD drug development scientists during the transition from discovery to clinical trials?

PhD Drug Development Scientists often encounter challenges when moving a promising compound from the discovery phase to clinical trials, such as ensuring the drug's safety profile, scalability of synthesis, and regulatory compliance. Balancing scientific rigor with tight project timelines requires strong project management and cross-functional collaboration with regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing teams. Additionally, adapting to evolving regulatory requirements and troubleshooting unexpected preclinical results are common hurdles. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for advancing new therapies to patients and offers valuable experience for career growth.

What is the difference between Phd Drug Development Scientist vs Pharmacologist?

AspectPhd Drug Development ScientistPharmacologist
Required CredentialsPhD in Pharmacology, Chemistry, or related fieldPhD or MD in Pharmacology or related discipline
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firmsResearch institutions, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare settings
Industry UsageDeveloping new drugs, conducting preclinical studiesStudying drug effects, mechanisms, and interactions
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

The Phd Drug Development Scientist focuses on designing and developing new drugs through research and preclinical testing, while the Pharmacologist studies how drugs work in the body, including their effects and interactions. Both roles require advanced degrees and are integral to the pharmaceutical industry, but they differ in their primary focus and daily responsibilities.

What are popular job titles related to Phd Drug Development Scientist jobs in Reston, VA?

For Phd Drug Development Scientist jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Phd Drug Development Scientist jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Phd Drug Development Scientist jobs in Reston, VA are:

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Cities near Reston, VA with the most Phd Drug Development Scientist job openings:

Phd Drug Development Scientist jobs near you

Executive Director, Development Asset Leadership

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rockville, MD • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 11 hours ago

Job description

Supernus Pharmaceuticals is an award-winning biopharmaceutical company with more than 30 years of experience in developing and commercializing products that treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases. At Supernus, we develop innovative products that help treat neurological and psychiatric conditions. We currently have 9 products in the market that are making a real impact on patient outcomes.
Job Summary:
The Executive Director, Development Asset Leadership, is responsible for leading the oversight and execution of Supernus's pharmaceutical development programs from early discoveries through commercialization. This executive role is responsible for defining, prioritizing, managing, and driving cross functional execution of the company's asset development program(s) to ensure alignment with corporate strategy, scientific excellence, and financial objectives. The Executive Director will provide leadership across cross-functional program teams, portfolio management and program management, ensuring successful execution of drug development milestones, risk mitigation, resource optimization, and stakeholder communication.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Lead the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of asset development strategies aligned with Target Product Profiles (TPP).
  • Define and own the overall clinical strategy, clinical development plans, and Integrated Development Plans.
  • Holds cross functional team members accountable for establishing and achieving ambitious yet attainable annual objectives.
  • Work with Portfolio and Program Management to establish KPIs for each development program.
  • Drive, facilitate, and oversee the development and execution of clinical development plans, protocol generation, study design, and endpoints to ensure that programs meet their intended value in alignment with TPP.
  • Partner with portfolio and program management to lead and inspire cross functional teams of preclinical, CMC, medical writers, clinical development, clinical operations, biostatistics, and regulatory to execute on the development strategy across programs.
  • Partner with Executive Leadership to align portfolio decisions with company strategy, scientific priorities, and market needs.
  • Oversee portfolio governance processes, including prioritization frameworks, resource allocation, and scenario planning.
  • Develop and utilize KPIs, dashboards, and performance metrics to track portfolio progress, risk, and decision making across programs.
  • Provide executive leadership for all cross-functional development programs (preclinical, clinical, regulatory, CMC, commercial).
  • Ensure programs are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and in alignment with quality and compliance standards.
  • Build, lead, and mentor high-performing Portfolio & Program Management teams and hold teams accountable for deliverables.
  • Foster strong working relationships across R&D, Regulatory, Commercial, Finance, and other departments.
  • Serves as the key liaison to the Executive Committee for program/portfolio status updates, investment cases, and critical risks.
  • Lead program review committees and other governance bodies to support decision making.
  • Support business development, partnership evaluations, and due diligence processes from a portfolio perspective.
  • Oversees the Internal Controls in Areas of Responsibilities.
  • Other responsibilities and projects assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • Provides leadership and management in an effective manner consistent with Company Values towards defined Corporate Objectives.
  • Understands Company Policy and procedure to be able to guide direct reports appropriately.

Knowledge & Other Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree required and a minimum of 14 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including at least 10 years in R&D program/portfolio management leadership roles.
  • Advanced degree in life sciences (PhD, PharmD, MD) strongly preferred, master's degree is a plus.
  • Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional drug development programs across multiple phases (e.g., IND through NDA/BLA submission and approval).
  • Experience in CNS (Psych and Neuro), and/or Orphan/Rare Diseases preferred.
  • Experience in both pharma and high-growth biotech environments preferred.
  • Ability to understand large, complex budgets and accurately track expenditures against them.
  • Strong presentation skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Other Characteristics:
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team and maintain high ethical standards of integrity and quality.
  • Ability to have an innovative and dynamic approach to work.
  • A self-starter able to work independently but comfortable working in a team environment.
  • Ability to consistently exhibit Supernus Values in interactions with employees at all levels of the organization, vendors, customers and others.
  • Capable of performing other duties as assigned by Management.
  • Authorized to legally work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment/Travel Requirements:
  • Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or carrying objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
  • The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer screen, iPad, or other electronic device; and extensive reading.
  • The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Compensation:
At Supernus, we offer a competitive compensation package that reflects your experiences and contributions. The expected salary range for fully qualified candidates applying for this role is $250,000 to $310,000. This range is what the Company reasonably expects to offer for the position and is not reflective of the full compensation scale of the role. This range may be modified in the future. An individual's salary within the range is based on multiple factors, which may include and are not limited to education, relevant experience, knowledge, length of industry experience and organizational needs.
Base salary is one part of the overall compensation package, which includes the opportunity to participate in employee stock purchase programs and performance-based bonus programs.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age or any other characteristic protected by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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