Senior Scientist, Oncology Targeted Discovery

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD
•Onsite

About The Position

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’re passionate about the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. We commit to those areas where we believe we can really change the course of medicine and bring big new insights to life. AstraZeneca’s vision in Oncology is to push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine, transform the lives of patients living with cancer, and to ultimately eliminate cancer as a cause of death. A broad pipeline of next-generation medicines is bringing novel concepts in oncology to address unmet medical need. Opportunity We are seeking a highly motivated, independent Senior Scientist (lab-based) with a proven track record in cancer research and extensive laboratory experience to join our Target Identification and Validation group in Gaithersburg, MD, USA. As a Senior Scientist in Oncology Targeted Discovery within the Oncology R&D Department, you will lead target validation efforts for tumor-targeted therapies, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and targeted radioconjugates. You will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to advance pipeline programs and deepen our understanding of all aspects of target biology.

Requirements

  • Ph.D. with 2+ years of experience, or Masters with 7+ years of experience, in a relevant field
  • Solid understanding of cell biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry in the context of cancer
  • Strong laboratory bench skills in mammalian cell culture and molecular and cell-based experimental techniques, such as flow cytometry, western blotting, qPCR, ELISA, fluorescence microscopy, cell cytotoxicity assays, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing
  • Ability to work well independently, with minimal supervision, and collaboratively with other teams
  • Excellent communication, organizational, , and problem solving, skills in a fast-paced matrix environment
  • Commitment to ensuring that one’s own work and the work of peers comply with Good Laboratory Practice; Safety, Health, and Environment standards; all other relevant internal AstraZeneca standards; and external regulations

Nice To Haves

  • Prior experience in the biopharmaceutical industry is viewed favorably
  • Expertise in laboratory automation techniques
  • Experience with computational analysis of large data sets, such as transcriptomics or proteomics
  • Knowledge of tumor-targeted therapy (e.g., ADC) biology and resistance mechanisms is viewed favorably

Responsibilities

  • Act as target validation lead for one or more pipeline programs
  • Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure the timely generation and dissemination of critical program data to enable milestone progression decisions
  • Design, conduct, and analyze in vitro experiments using an array of biochemical, molecular, and cellular biology techniques to validate new targets and dissect the mechanisms of action of novel cancer therapeutics
  • Remain current with relevant technical and scientific expertise in cancer biology, disease modeling, and therapeutics
  • Be highly collegial, collaborative, and data-driven, with a passion for learning and growth

Benefits

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