Senior Scientist, Biomolecular NMR

Are you a scientist with expertise in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and a passion for applying your skills to characterize molecular interactions and drive drug discovery? Do you want to leverage your experience to advance the use of NMR in impactful drug discovery projects, while developing your career within a company that values scientific innovation and transforms ideas into life-changing treatments? We at AstraZeneca have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team!

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopist to join our Biophysics team within Discovery Sciences. 

AstraZeneca is committed to the development of next generation innovative medicines. To help us with this we are looking for a scientist with passion, expertise and experience to join our Protein Science, Structural Biology and Biophysics department as a lab-based Senior Scientist within the Biophysics team. The team is based in our vibrant R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden and applies biophysical technologies across a range of different modalities to support drug discovery from target validation to drug candidate. You will be part of a team of enthusiastic scientists that deliver deep technical and scientific expertise by applying molecular biophysical methods, including SPR, NMR, ITC, DSF, MST, HDX-MS and single molecule approaches. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development and execution of research strategies for the discovery of new medicines – and be focused on the field of biomolecular NMR spectroscopy.

What you will do: 
The role of Senior Scientist is a laboratory-based position supporting the characterization of biomolecular interactions in drug discovery, with a core focus on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The successful candidate will apply NMR spectroscopy to support fragment-based screening, hit validation from small molecule hit finding activities including HTS and DEL screening, and the development of small molecule therapeutics targeting both protein and RNA systems. While the primary focus will be on stable protein targets, the role may also involve studying highly flexible systems, such as RNA and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), to provide deeper molecular insights when required.

You will play a critical role in designing and implementing advanced NMR experiments tailored to specific research needs, including analyzing target-ligand interactions, as well as supporting fragment-based screening campaigns. You will conduct detailed studies to investigate binding specificity using both 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments whilst ensuring high-quality data collection and analysis. Your findings will contribute to the understanding of molecular mechanisms and support the development of drug candidates. Additionally, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, integrating the NMR results with broader research efforts to drive drug discovery projects forward.

To excel in this role, you will bring deep expertise in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy, including your experience working with proteins as well as using other biophysical techniques such as SPR, ITC and/or DSF. You will be expected to independently manage experimental workflows, from sample preparation through data acquisition and analysis, and provide insights to guide drug discovery strategies. A commitment to scientific rigor, teamwork, and effective communication will be key, as you will work collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines including medicinal chemistry, biology, pharmacology and structural biology while presenting your findings in internal and external forums.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful drug discovery projects while developing professionally in a supportive and innovative environment. You will stay abreast of advancements in NMR spectroscopy and biophysics, applying the latest methodologies to enhance research outcomes. A positive, goal-oriented attitude, combined with strong problem-solving skills, will ensure success in this dynamic and challenging role.
 
Essential requirements for the role:

•    PhD or equivalent experience in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or a related field

•    Hands on experience with biomolecular NMR, including 1D, 2D and ideally 3D experiments, and a strong track record in using NMR to explore biomolecular ligand interactions 

•    Familiarity with fragment-based screening and hit validation using NMR, together with confidence in tools like TopSpin, NMRPipe or CCPN for data analysis

•    Experience with laboratory automation, workflow design or process optimization is highly welcome

•    A track record of scientific communication through publications, presentations or similar contributions that reflect engagemen