Postdoc Fellow Predicting and Explaining Cell-Nanoparticle

Interaction on an Individual Cell Level using Deep Learning Based Sequence Modelling.
Innovate to change the world!
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. A place for bold disruptors shifting from academia to industry, this is where you can think differently to cut through the noise, add value, and bring fresh thinking to our teams and projects. Collaborating across functions and international borders, you’ll share knowledge and combine strengths to take your skills, and our science, to the next level.
About the Postdoc Programme
AstraZeneca’s Postdoc Programme is for self-motivated individuals looking to tackle exciting, high impact projects in a collaborative and innovative environment.
Working with peers and professionals from a diverse set of backgrounds, together with a world class academic mentor aligned specifically to your project, you’ll be respected as a specialist, and encouraged to speak up. You’ll lead a novel and innovative research project at the interface of drug discovery and biopharmaceutical development in a multi-disciplinary scientific environment. Empowered and supported to drive the success of your project, publish papers, achieve your goals and make a difference to our patients!
Running alongside your research project, our postdoc training program will help you learn about drug discovery and development from industry leaders working in our innovative research laboratories and organization.
About the Opportunity
This postdoc project will be based within Pharmaceutical Sciences, a branch of AstraZeneca’s R&D that specializes in getting the active drug molecule to where it needs to go. The Advanced Drug Delivery department is in turn concerned with nanomedicine development and runs a variety of projects to investigate nanoparticle engineering and nanoparticle interactions with biological systems.
The performance of nanomedicine delivery systems is dependent on their ability to optimally interact with cellular membranes, enter the cells using endocytosis, and deliver their cargo to the cell cytoplasm by promoting endosomal escape. For each of these processes there is cell-to-cell variation. The end goal in this project is to understand and predict this variation by developing deep learning-based sequence models which allow us to predict the time and magnitude of response to nanoparticle treatment, for every freely moving cell in a population. This information should further be fed into the experimental work to extract mechanistic knowledge about what is required for successful delivery of nanomedicine cargo.
In close collaboration with experienced lab and data scientists, you will have ownership of the entire modeling and analysis pipeline ranging from experimental work to advanced predictive modelling to drafting of manuscripts for publication.
Essential Education and Experience
You may hold a PhD in cell biology, biotechnology, physiology or equivalent scientific field with hands on experience with machine learning, and/or a PhD in Maths, Physics, Statistics or Computer Science with a strong curiosity about cell biology.
Required:
A passionate relationship to science, a collaborative demeanor, and the desire to help build the best working environment possible
Hands-on experience with data science and machine learning, including multivariate data analysis, data processing and visualization
Considerable experience of implementation of deep learning models in python or similar programming language enabling fast model development
Extensive experience with in-vitro cell culture and cell biological methods
Advanced microscopy, laboratory automation, high-content biology (robotic microscopy and image analysis). Preferred candidates will have a high technical aptitude and be able to demonstrate experience in most or all of these areas

Desirable:
Proven track record to drive innovative research through internalization of new techniques and technology, as well as forming internal and external collaborations
Track record of scientific excellence, with a strong publication record and engagement with the scientific community through both conferences and collaborations
Supervisory skills and experience
Knowledge of endocytosis, intracellular trafficking pathways and relevant intracellular signaling
Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken)

This is a 3-year programme. 2 years will be a Fixed Term Contract, with a 1-year extension which will be merit based.