Bioassay Development Scientist

Are you a PhD level Life Scientist with in vitro assay development experience who wants to add pharma industry experience to your portfolio?

Are you fuelled by the commitment to help patients and see what science can do?

An opportunity has arisen for a 14 months fixed term contract at AstraZeneca: Be part of the Bioassay, Biosafety and Impurities Group accountable for developing innovative methods to evaluate product quality by measuring biological activity and detecting, characterizing, and quantifying product variants and process-related impurities for biologics (e.g. monoclonal antibodies, modified peptides, viruses, RNAs etc).

This enables product understanding, manufacturing process development, formulation, drug product development and regulatory filings to bring our drugs to the clinic and eventually onto the market. In addition, this group is accountable for control systems, including specifications, comparability, and shelf-life strategies required by regulatory agencies. Also, it performs technical transfer of methods to clinical quality control and commercial launch sites and technical support and lifecycle management post-launch.

We are looking to recruit a dynamic and highly motivated lab based scientist with proven experience of in vitro biological activity methods. They are expected to be hands-on in driving the development and implementation of novel cell based and immuno assays.

Our Expectations:

• Use your knowledge of cell culture and hands-on biological assay development in a team oriented environment
• Support our drug development programmes with data, effectively utilising existing and novel technologies and instrumentation
• Convert opportunities and resources to succeed and thrive around the team and communicate achievements to different audiences, including team meetings, global group meetings and matrix teams.
• Learn from experience and guidelines/documentation to increase responsibilities and complexity of tasks to be performed with a higher level of autonomy.
• Build on AZ’s dynamic environment

Our Expectations:

• Develop biochemical and cell based potency assays based on drug mode of action and carry out routine sample testing in a timely fashion
• Enable transfer of any methods to other groups as appropriate
• Accurately record all data clearly and concisely with a clear understanding of its implications within the overall context of drug development
• Manage own work to ensure that agreed targets are met and to agreed quality standards, communicating progress appropriately
• Discuss and defend experimental findings at cross-functional meetings, representing the Bioassay Team.
• Prepare for review clear and concise technical documents like SOPs, work plans, work reports and instructional documents
• Assist in the training of others in procedures and practices
• Ensure that work is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards

Essential Skills, Education and Qualifications:

• Minimum BSc (or equivalent) in Biochemistry, Cellular Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or a related field together with industry experience or PhD with similar academic experience
• Thorough understanding of mammalian cell culture and hands-on experience with in vitro cell-based assay techniques and their applications in assessing e.g. cellular signalling, receptor binding and cytotoxicity

Desired:

• Drug development experience in academia, Pharma/Biotech industry
• Experience with immunoassay/binding assays
• Experience with cell line generation and molecular biology techniques

Salary: Competitive salary and benefits package on offer.

So, what’s next?

Are you already imagining yourself joining us? Good, because we can’t wait tohear from you!

Advertising opens on 9th February 2023, and we welcome with your application; CV and cover letter, no later than 23rd February 2023

For more information please contact: alexander.doyle@astrazeneca.com

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.