Thesis work: Clearing for Lung Tissue Transparency-3D imaging

Job description
Clearing for Lung Tissue Transparency – towards 3D imaging

Thesis project: 30 credits
Student location: AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
Start: January 2022

Did you know organs can be made transparent and be imaged in 3D? If you are interested in working with 3D imaging of lung in a group with advanced imaging labeling techniques – please come join the Swedish Imaging Hub at Imaging and data analytics, CPSS (clinical and pharmacological safety sciences) for you master thesis.

Now that we have developed clearing protocols for creating transparent organs a number of questions about exactly what can be viewed, how structures are connected to eachother, in what magnification can the tissues be viewed and how many things can we label and investigate at the same time. The organ we will start exploring this in is the lung. Lung tissues have a complex matrix of heterogenic molecules, for example elastin, collagen and phospholipids in cell membranes. Our clearing method remove many of these heterogenous molecule while proteins and carbohydrates that are covalently bound to the matrix and each other are still preserved, making us able to label what is of interest with fluorescent tags and image them. At first we will focus in imaging a lot of the important proteins naturally occurring in the lung together with inhaled drugs and on top of that explore capturing a detailed 3D view of disease related phenotypes like inflammation and tumors. You will join an organization at AZ focusing on Imaging, imaging analyses and how to use artificial intelligence to support the image analyses. The organization is a part of AZ that works with safety concerns which might arise during drug development.

Responsibilities
By joining our team you will learn techniques and principles around tissue labelling and imaging. You will learn to appreciate how important imaging is during scientific trouble shouting and drug development. The goal of your particular project will be to:


Further improve the clearing protocol in particular to speed up the clearing and labeling process.
Test different labeling techniques to get the most out of the 3D information as possible
Evaluate the 3D high resolution images and support the development of digital image analyses to quantitatively determine numbers and volume measurements


Qualifications
Essential Requirements
You have at least 2 years of studies at the University
English communication skills
Commit to labwork
Thorough
Responsive

Desirable Requirements 
Science focused
Creative


Application
Randstad Life Sciences is cooperating with AstraZeneca in this recruitment process. We only handle applications sent through Randstad’s website.

All chosen candidates need to pass a background check and an alcohol and drug test before starting the project.

Deadline for application: 2021-10-22

For more information: Veronika Knudsen veronika.knudsen@randstad.se or Kerstin Karlsson kerstin.karlsson@randstad.se

About the company
At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines and strive to continuously meet the unmet needs of patients worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

Our Gothenburg site is one of AstraZeneca's three strategic science centers. We thrive in a multinational environment working cross-functionally across the globe with AstraZeneca colleagues as well as academic and industry partners. Our way of life is to foster a working environment that nurtures collaboration, openness and innovation. Therefore, we have created space for meetings, socializing and relaxation, where spontaneous meetings can give birth to new innovations. The unexpected ideas or thoughts that can come from a chat over something as simple as a cup of  coffee or a stroll on our “walk and talk” meeting trail. AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law. AstraZeneca only employs individuals with the right to work in the country/ies where the role is advertised.