Senior Scientist-to-Associate Principal Scientist Neuroscience

Cambridge, UK

Salary & Benefits Competitive

Bold Disruptors.  Push the boundaries of science. Fearlessly break new ground

Work at the cutting-edge, where scientific innovations and an entrepreneurial spirit are the norm.

And in return… we’re looking for curious minds, comfortable taking smart risks and learning from failures.

Cambridge is a truly international and inclusive environment. We welcome the contribution of people from all backgrounds, beliefs and walks of life.

This is the place to go beyond discovery – we think holistically about patients and are always learning from those living with diseases. We harness digital, data science & AI to fast-forward our research. Making sure work born in a lab can make a real difference.

Role

You will be a senior laboratory-based scientist working within the neuroscience discovery group. You will have responsibility for delivering a wide range of drug discovery and development assays to support the current preclinical project portfolio and will ideally have expertise in the field of neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation or analgesia. You will also contribute towards the identification and validation of novel drug targets.

You will have prior expertise in setting up and delivering bioassays including cell-based, imaging-based & pharmacology-based, which will also require previous hands-on experience in the culture of cell lines and primary neurons and/or glia (astrocytes/microglia).  A good working knowledge of culturing and maintaining iPSC-derived neuronal or glial cultures would be helpful. Experience in a range of molecular biology  techniques (including cloning, qPCR, RNAseq) would be advantageous. Previous experience in either preclinical drug discovery, working in a matrix team, managing a small team of laboratory scientists or a proven ability to lead the biology effort on a project would be ideal.

Typical Accountabilities and Skills

You will have previous experience working in several of the following areas:

• Broad experience in cell-based/biochemical assays using recombinant cell-lines or primary cells, and tissue samples

• A good knowledge of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, neuroinflammatory processes or the mechanisms of pain

• Experience in directing the biology effort for an early drug discovery project including helping to understand drug mechanism of action and aid compound  selection based on pharmacological analysis

• Work within a line and/or matrix drug project team as the biology representative

• Experience in preparing and maintaining cell cultures including primary rodent neuronal/glial cells, and/or human iPSC-derived neuronal/glial cells

• Experience in setting up and executing cell-imaging based assays and readouts

• Input into the design and execution of drug screening assays for targets including soluble mediators, enzymes, GPCRs or ion channels

• Experience in pharmacological interpretation of bioassay results and understanding of the principles of competition, quantitative pharmacological analysis, affinity, IC/EC50, drug potency, to aid compound selection

• Experience in making networks  - establishing internal collaborations, and in identifying and setting up external collaborations

• Experience in the design and execution of in vitro and/or in vivo/ex vivo studies with external vendors/CROs to support a project

• Have expertise in the use of molecular biology techniques and tools and their employment in cellular/functional assays e.g. cloning into a variety of vectors, qPCR, RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, RNAseq

Education, Qualifications and Experience

• You will be degree-educated in a Life Sciences discipline, and have a doctorate (PhD) or equivalent, preferably in a field within or related to neuroscience

• You will have experience working in the pharmaceutical industry or early drug discovery process

• You will have a well-developed understanding and working application of cellular biology and pharmacology

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

So, what’s next?

Complete your application before the below closing date.

This role is open from 25/08/2021 and welcome with your application no later than 22/09/2021

Where can I find out more?

Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

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.