Assoc Principal Scientist - Bioinformatics for biocatalysis

Cambridge

Salary & Benefits Competitive

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines! Working here means being ambitious, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality.

We push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines.

AstraZeneca is a global, science-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative, significant medicines and healthcare solutions that enrich the lives of patients.

Pharmaceutical Sciences is a function within the AstraZeneca’s Biopharmaceuticals R&D unit that works across all aspects of CMC development to ensure implementation of intelligent design of medicines and delivery systems to the early portfolio. The function has four departments: Early Chemical Development, Advanced Drug Delivery, Early Product Development and Manufacturing, and Data Science and Modelling.

Early Chemical Development (ECD) is a World-Class CMC department with responsibility for early phase Drug Substance Manufacturing. The department’s responsibilities span from early engagement with Discovery Chemistry groups up to manufacturing of Phase II Clinical material, and its key skill areas include Analytical Chemistry, Crystallisation, Isotope Chemistry, Large-Scale Laboratory (Kilo-Lab) Manufacturing, Process Chemistry, Process Design, Process Engineering, Route Design and Separation Science.

A great opportunity has arisen for an APS – Bioinformatics to support AstraZeneca’s Enzyme Discovery and Engineering team.

You will be a key member of the team with the overarching task to provide in silico support to all of the enzyme discovery and enzyme engineering activities. These activities will primarily align with projects from the early portfolio but also support Discovery Sciences and Operations.

You will bring your substantial expertise of bioinformatics for enzyme design and engineering to the design and optimisation of robust enzymatic manufacturing steps. This role will work multi-functionally with internal and external partners, to ensure that process design considerations for the commercial manufacturing are integrated early on.

The role is based at AstraZeneca’s Cambridge Hub (initially in Granta Park) and is primarily computer based.

You will have access to advanced state-of-the-art modelling software, such as Rosetta, Schrodinger and MOE and will have access to a large pool of internal specialists using machine learning in chemistry and protein science.

ECD is committed to personal development and as such ensures that every individual has opportunities to grow within the business towards more senior roles.

Typical Accountabilities

The role will be primarily computer based and the candidate will have the following accountabilities:

• Is an integral part of and offers unique expertise to AZ’s enzyme discovery and engineering team
• Leads all in silico activities for enzyme design and enzyme engineering activities across all projects
• Actively contributes to the data management strategy for enzyme variants
• Provides multi-functional bioinformatics support to other biocatalysis team throughout the company (e.g. novel enzyme panels for discovery sciences and engineered enzymes for commercial manufacturing)
• Grows relationships with internal and external partners towards technological and scientific developments. Ensures state of the art technology is applied, delivering new ways of working to improve project delivery and driving innovation.
• Through collaborations, ensure the integration of biocatalytic routes into chemical retro-synthetic softwares
• Tech transfer to external CMOs and CROs for biocatalytic step investigation and implementation and delivery of manufacturing campaigns
• Coordinates and contributes to the efforts of manufacturing design teams working to develop one or more drugs
• Participates in multi-functional and cross-brand networks to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of projects
• Remains aware of new, relevant internal and external developments that affect own area of the drug life cycle, and shares these with other members of team or function
• Ensures own work, and the work of others, is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• The role will be primarily computer based and the candidate will have the following accountabilities:

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification (biocatalysis, bioinformatics, data sciences) and substantial, proven experience within the subject area
• Significant experience in pharmaceutical sciences
• Working knowledge of AstraZeneca business objectives that are related to R&D
• Working knowledge of relevant company and national regulations and industry standards
• Understanding of patent and IP strategies

Desirable

• Advanced degree or equivalent qualification within a computational structural biology subject area, such as Computational Chemistry, Molecular Modelling, Biophysics or Chemoinformatics
• Additional postdoctoral or industrial experience preferred
• Specialist and functional area expertise, specifically in the following skills:
  • protein structure analysis, design and simulation tools
  • protein sequence analysis, alignment and visualisation tools
  • Directed evolution and in silico enzyme engineering
• Experience in working with molecular biologists, analytical and organic chemists
• Proven programming and scripting skills (e.g. Python) and experience with statistical analysis and modern data science techniques

So, what’s next?

Are you already envisioning yourself joining us? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you!

Welcome with your application; CV and cover letter, no later than 12/02/2021.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, 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.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.