Translational Science Lead Immunology

Location: Cambridge UK, Gaithersburg US or Gothenburg Sweden.

Job Description

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. At AstraZeneca, we're proud to have an outstanding workplace culture that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration through scientific research. Employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives and are made to feel valued, energized and rewarded for their ideas and creativity.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Early Respiratory and Immunology Translational Science and Experimental Medicine department is a fast-paced environment, with a culture that is both science-based and patient-focused. Our mission is to understand disease mechanisms at the molecular level, identify the most effective target and the right patient population, and to close the gap between bench science and bedside clinical practice.

A key role of Precision Medicine Discovery is to lead the development of precision medicine in Immunology diseases, driving patient segmentation and delivering translational clinical validation. Underpinned by understanding of disease relevant pathways and drivers.

The Translational Science Lead (TSL) Immunology is a key scientific role where you will be focusing on:

• delivering precision medicine strategies to select the patients most likely to benefit from our medicines
• building mechanistic understanding of the target and disease through innovative application of experimental methods and technologies.
• building the translational clinical validation package for Immunology targets and utilising public and proprietary biobanks, to better understand responding sub populations, biomarkers and the biology of our drug targets
• identifying and enabling Proof of Mechanism (PoM) biomarkers to demonstrate target engagement at First-Time-In-Man (FITM)

The TSL is accountable as member of a project team for the precision medicine strategy and clinical target validation strategy. Continuously collaborating with functions within and outside Early Respiratory and Immunology will be essential to continuously strengthen the link between targets and disease phenotypes and endotypes and bring precision medicine propositions to the clinic. The TSL is both a laboratory and project role, requiring flexibility to ensure all translational aspects of the projects are supported according to timelines.

Qualifications & Skills

• Proven ability to deliver in precision medicine and human target validation and their application to drug discovery
• Excellent understanding of the Immunology therapy area and disease biology, including related molecular pathways and mechanisms.
• Experience and knowledge of the biological basis for patient segmentation, precision medicine and familiar with patient selection biomarker invention and implementation.
• Experience and knowledge of the biological basis for target engagement biomarkers and familiar with PoM biomarker invention and implementation.
• Broad understanding of relevant technologies and methodologies along with excellent scientific laboratory skills and ability to experimentally address key scientific questions.
• Excellent skills in hypothesis forming and testing and able to draw conclusions and suggest next steps based on the experimental data.
• Shown experience and solid understanding of biology, pharmacology, translational medicine and clinical sciences as well as clinical development with pre-eminence in at least one of these areas.
• Great leadership skills, ability to be a self-starter.
• Strong team working skills with a proven track record of working collaboratively to ensure scientific excellence and robust delivery to projects.
• Written, oral, presentation and interpersonal skills

Education Requirements

• PhD or equivalent with a strong experimental drive and background in relevant scientific field
• Post-doc experience or otherwise relevant scientific research experience
• Experience in an academic and/or industry setting
• Strong publication record

If you are interested, apply now!

For more information about the position please contact Alix Berton, Alix.Berton@astrazeneca.com

Welcome with your application no later than August 30th, 2020.

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.