Scientist, Early Oncology, Tumor Targeted Delivery

Scientist - Early Oncology, Tumor Targeted Delivery

Gaithersburg, MD

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, 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 ideas 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 focused principally on four disease areas - breast, ovarian, lung and hematological cancers.

We are seeking a highly motivated and independent Scientist with experience in cancer biology with a track record of scientific excellence in in-vitro cancer modeling, to join our antibody-drug conjugate (ADCs) Platform team in Gaithersburg, MD USA. As a Scientist you will be a key member of a team focused on delivering all aspects of pharmacology support. You will bring your theoretical and practical expertise to establish assay systems and deliver datasets that will have direct impact on the drug discovery process and pipeline.

Accountabilities:

Working in this laboratory-based position within the Early Oncology ADC Platform Development Team, you will develop, design, conduct and analyze in vitro experiments to assist in the development of our next generation ADC therapeutics. Specifically, you will help evaluate how changes to our antibodies, linkers and warheads can optimize the therapeutic index of our ADCs. You will be expected to support cross-functional teams and work collaboratively with project managers to ensure the timely generation and dissemination of critical program data. As a highly organized, self-motivated individual with a strong background in laboratory science you will stay up to date with relevant technical and intellectual scientific expertise in the ADC field, tumor biology and cancer modeling and have a genuine passion for this field of research. The candidate may also conduct ex vivo analyses of our ADCs based on interest and experience.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree with >5 years of research experience in cancer/cell biology, or a Master’s degree in cancer/cell biology. Prior experience in the biopharmaceutical industry preferable.
• Experience with routine cell culture, particularly culture of tumor cells
• Experience assessing in vitro activity of therapeutic compounds via assays to determine binding and internalization (e.g. flow cytometry or ligand-binding assays), cytotoxicity (e.g. CellTiterGlo assays), and mechanism of action (e.g. Western Blot analysis)
• Works independently with minimal supervision to conduct experiments
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to report data in a clear and concise manner, with a clear understanding of its implications within the overall context of drug discovery
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills together with evidence of delivery in a team-oriented, collaborative environment
• A proven track record of productivity; contributions to scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals preferred

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience in evaluation of ADCs
• Experience running combination screening assays
• Experience with high throughput screening (e.g. use of equipment such as the ECHO acoustic liquid handler)
• Experience with flow cytometry and relevant analysis software (e.g. FlowJo)
• Knowledge of the industrial drug discovery process

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca?

As Scientists in Oncology, we push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine and transform the lives of patients living with cancer. We are a science-based, leading and decisive Oncology enterprise united in our vision to eliminate cancer as a cause of death. The pioneers, we make bold moves that transform the way cancer is treated and truly improve patient outcomes. With one of the broadest and deepest Oncology pipelines in the industry, there are many opportunities to work with new and novel drugs and