Scientist, Bioscience Immunology

AstraZeneca • Waltham, MA

21h • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you driven to transform cutting-edge immunology into therapies that make a tangible difference for patients? Do you thrive in fast-moving scientific environments where not all the answers are known yet? Join a lab-based team in Waltham, MA, dedicated to discovering, validating, and advancing novel targets using human in vitro systems and primary and disease tissue-derived cells. In this role, you will connect deep biological insight to decision-making in drug discovery. Working in state-of-the-art labs alongside accomplished scientists, you will characterize immune pathways in health and disease, design and optimize assays, and generate data that shape program strategy. Expect high visibility, cross-functional collaboration, and the opportunity to publish impactful work while building capabilities that accelerate medicines to patients.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biology, immunology or relevant discipline with 5+ years of relevant industry experience, Master’s degree in biology, immunology or relevant discipline with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, or PhD degree in biology, immunology or relevant discipline with 0+ years of post-doctoral experience is required
• Expertise in adaptive and innate immunity, primary cell culture and assay development is essential
• Highly organized and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team to conduct a high-level research project is essential
• Strong hands-on skills in basic biochemical and molecular techniques, with proficiency in at least several of the following: primary cell culture, quantification of mRNA (qPCR), multi-panel flow cytometry (including both intracellular and extracellular markers), protein expression; ELISA, Western blot, MSD, Luminex
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to critically analyze data sets
• Demonstrated ability to run collaborative efforts and utilize external resources to find the most effective solutions

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in antigen-specific immune responses, TCR discovery or immune tolerance
• Experience with multiplex cytokine read-outs and in vitro/ex vivo culture of immune cells
• Knowledge and experience of in vivo science

Responsibilities

• Define and interrogate novel immunological pathways in health and disease to drive target validation and guide therapeutic hypotheses for drug projects.
• Design, execute, and refine studies using primary and disease tissue-derived cells to generate translational data that inform program decisions.
• Build, optimize, and qualify robust cellular, molecular, and protein assays; establish standards and controls to ensure reproducibility and decision-grade data.
• Apply rigorous experimental design and statistical thinking to critically analyze complex datasets and communicate clear, actionable conclusions.
• Partner with project teams and external collaborators to align on goals, share insights, and accelerate progress; bring external science and technologies in when they create advantage.
• Lead aspects of the biology, contribute to strategy discussions, and publish high-quality research in reputable journals to advance the field and our pipeline.
• Navigate ambiguity with resilience; iterate quickly, learn from setbacks, and adopt inventive approaches that keep programs moving at pace.

Benefits

• qualified retirement programs
• paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)
• health, dental, and vision coverage
• eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree