Senior Research Scientist - BioPharma drug discovery

Are you a curious scientist with expertise in cellular engineering and a passion for cell model generation? Would you like to apply these skills to impact early drug discovery in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines for patients worldwide? Then AstraZeneca might be the place for you!

As a Senior Research Scientist in Gothenburg, Sweden, you’ll play a pivotal role in channeling our scientific capabilities to make a positive impact on changing patients’ lives. As a part of the Discovery Biology Department in the Cellular Biology Team you will be developing bespoke cellular models using a wide range of cell engineering tools including the Nobel-winning CRISPR/Cas system. These cellular models will feed into our drug discovery pipeline supporting target validation, screening assays, and detailed biological mechanism-of-action studies.

You will work within Discovery Sciences, part of AstraZeneca’s BioPharmaceuticals organisation, which focuses on scientific advances in established and emerging medicine formats and drug discovery technologies across therapeutic areas including Respiratory & Inflammation (R&I), Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM), and Neuroscience.

What you will do:
Specifically, the successful candidate will take a lead scientific role in applying their cellular engineering skills to design, generate, validate and characterise cellular models to progress drug discovery. You will provide expertise in genome engineering across a range of cell types, coupled to validation of the models at DNA, RNA and functional protein levels.

It is a lab-based position where you will utilise your expertise in cellular model generation through genome engineering to independently design, develop and validate models for implementation in drug discovery projects, while incorporating the views of others. In addition, you will employ cutting-edge cell biology to drive scientific development in the field.
The position also includes:
• Design and implementation of work-plans to agreed timelines to meet project objectives, including delivery of more than one agreed area of work in parallel
• Be an effective member of Drug Discovery Project Teams, contributing novel ideas and using judgement and knowledge to influence the work of the project
• Achieve personal scientific visibility through project contributions and internal presentations at departmental or functional meetings; and external scientific visibility through poster and oral conference presentations and authorship on peer-reviewed publications

Essentials for the role:
• PhD in Biology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology or a related discipline or a BSc/MSc degree with significant relevant experience, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
• Expertise in cellular genome engineering from demonstrable design and tool generation through to validation and functional characterisation
• Strong experience in appropriate cellular biology techniques applied to development of physiologically relevant cellular assays (endogenous gene-tagging, gene expression knock-down, transfection methods)

Desirable for the role:
• Experience in imaging (light microscopy) techniques for cell model validation and imaging assay development
• Experience in flow cytometry including FACS for selection of single cell clones through flow
• Good publication records in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating engineering expertise
• Excellent problem-solving skills, strong delivery focus and communication skills. Effective team worker with experience of interacting effectively across interfaces of discipline, culture, and expertise
• Research experience in R&I, CVRM and/or Neuroscience diseases