Scientist (In Vivo), Immunology/Pharmacology

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

About The Position

Join us to build differentiated medicines in immunology. At AstraZeneca, we are investing in the next wave of immunology and autoimmune disease innovation. We are looking for a strong in vivo scientist who wants to do more than run studies: someone who can generate robust data, think critically about biology, and help shape programs from target validation through early development. This role sits within our Early Respiratory & Immunology organization and is ideal for a scientist who brings deep hands-on in vivo pharmacology expertise, thrives in a collaborative research environment, and is motivated by translating complex immunology into decisions that matter for patients. You will contribute to programs in areas such as SLE, arthritis, and other immune-mediated diseases, working closely with project teams to answer mechanistic and translational questions with high scientific rigor. This is not a purely executional in vivo role. We are looking for someone who can combine technical excellence, disease insight, and sound experimental judgment. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence study design, interpret data in biological context, and contribute meaningfully to portfolio progression. You will be positioned to: Own critical in vivo study execution across disease and mechanistic models in immunology. Generate translationally relevant data that helps teams make faster, better decisions. Partner cross-functionally with pharmacology, immunology, translational sciences, and project leadership. Grow into study leadership and become a go-to expert for in vivo immunology approaches. Contribute to a high-impact portfolio focused on serious diseases with substantial unmet need. You will design, execute, and interpret in vivo studies that support discovery and early development programs in immunology. You will work with a high degree of independence while collaborating closely with colleagues across functions.

Requirements

BSc required in immunology, pharmacology, biology, or a related discipline + 5 years of experience
Proven experience in in vivo research using animal models
Demonstrated capability in tissue collection and sample processing
Experience with one or more relevant techniques, including flow cytometry and analysis, immunofluorescent staining, multiplex ELISA or related immunoassay platforms, RNA isolation, and qPCR
Good understanding of immunology, pharmacology, and physiology
Experience in data analysis, study documentation, reporting, and archiving
Familiarity with statistical methods and quality-focused experimental practice
Strong written and spoken English communication skills

Nice To Haves

MSc preferred, or equivalent depth of hands-on scientific experience + 3 years of experience
Industry experience in biopharma or drug discovery
Research in autoimmune or inflammatory disease, such as SLE, arthritis, or IBD
Experience with specialized in vivo techniques or development/optimization of in vivo models
Use of translational biomarkers to bridge preclinical findings to clinical questions
Exposure to working in matrixed project teams where data drives portfolio decisions

Responsibilities

Designing and running in vivo studies in disease and mechanistic models relevant to autoimmune and inflammatory biology
Administering candidate molecules and collecting blood, tissue, and other biological samples with strong technical proficiency
Supporting biomarker strategy through sample collection, assay planning, and data interpretation
Processing tissues and generating downstream data using approaches such as flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, multiplex immunoassays, RNA isolation, and qPCR
Evaluating and interpreting primary data to identify meaningful pharmacology and mechanism-related insights
Preparing clear study summaries and reports that enable project teams to act on results
Maintaining the highest standards in animal welfare, ethics, documentation, data integrity, and study quality
Depending on experience, leading in vivo study activities for discovery and early development programs