Postdoctoral Fellow: oligonucleotide metabolism

Do you have expertise in, or passion for, drug metabolism, enzyme kinetics and high-resolution mass spectrometry? Would you like to apply your knowledge to impact the oligonucleotide drug development in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life-changing medicines? Then this postdoc position at AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. But we're more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit. There's no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society.

CVRM (Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolism) is one of AstraZeneca's main therapeutic research areas, which deliver candidate drugs into clinical development. CVRM DMPK (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics) is accountable for the breadth of the CVRM drug portfolio and interacts with other functions in supporting CVRM projects along the value chain, from target selection to launch and life cycle management.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Oligonucleotide ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team. The successful candidate will have expertise from oligonucleotide drugs and experience in ADME studies. You will explore and expand our ability to set up in vitro assays to predict metabolism of oligonucleotide drugs and understanding potential drug-drug-interaction-risks from co-administration of nucleotide-based drugs. The outcome to proposed research work would guide to design better oligo molecules and predict in vivo metabolites of Oligos.

The role will be placed at AstraZeneca's world-class, vibrant R&D centre in Gothenburg, Sweden

What you'll do

This role spans over multiple scientific fields, from in vitro ADME, nucleases, enzyme kinetics, biotransformation of oligos, and collaborates tightly with oligo chemistry design. You will develop in-vitro methods which are capable of replicating in-vivo metabolism, both using specific enzymes and biological matrices. These data will form the foundation to predict in-vivo metabolism of new oligo drugs and contribute to in vitro to in vivo scaling of metabolism. Furthermore, you will investigate differential contribution from nucleases in various tissues and across preclinical species and human.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a strong team at the forefront of DMPK science, to innovate and support the portfolio of a major pharmaceutical company with science at its heart. You will be supervised by Deepak Kumar Bhatt, Associate Principal Scientist, CVRM DMPK and co-supervised by three internal experts in bioanalysis and biotransformation. We are also collaborating with Ian Cotgreave at RI.SE (biotransformation), and there will be an opportunity to visit RI.SE and study biotransformation of oligos.



Essential for the role

*

PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field with experience from oligonucleotide drugs
*

Hands-on experience with in vitro techniques that are related to enzyme kinetics, including the design, execution, and analysis of results from complex enzymatic reactions
*

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
*

Excellent communication and presentation skills
*

Demonstrated record of scientific excellence, as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals



Desirable for the role

*

Experience with high resolution mass spectrometry
*

Understanding of nucleases
*

Knowledge of oligonucleotide chemistry and biology



So, what's next?

This is a unique opportunity to expand the science into unchartered territory, and to influence the way of working with new oligo chemistry design by predicting in vivo metabolites of oligos from in vitro experiments.

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Excellent! We look forward to your application.

Welcome with your application no later than April 2nd 2023.



Where can I find out more?

Global Gothenburg: https://www.astrazeneca.se/om-oss/verksamheten-i-sverige/goteborg/relocate-to-gothenburg.html

Our Gothenburg site: https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-science/gothenburg.html



Why AstraZeneca?

Our Gothenburg site is one of AstraZeneca's three strategic R&D centres. With more than 2,400 employees from over than 70 countries, our vibrant Gothenburg site is a truly inspiring place to work. Here, the history and future of scientific breakthrough come together. We believe that the diversity of our people is crucial to bringing new discoveries to life.