Senior Scientist, ADC/RC Target Biology

Senior Scientist, ADC/RC Target Biology
Waltham, MA, USA

Do you feel passionate about the possibilities of great science changing lives of cancer patients? Do you have a background within oncology research and have interest in working with target biology for Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and radioconjugates (RCs)? If so, this may be the role for you!

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and independent Ph.D. Senior Scientist with a proven track record of scientific excellence and technical expertise in oncology research to join our ADC Biology and Development team at Waltham, MA USA, within the Oncology Targeted Discovery (OTD) group.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• As a Senior Scientist, you will be a key member of a team focused on supporting target discovery for various targeted therapeutic projects.

• You will work in a laboratory independently designing, conducting, troubleshooting, and analyzing in vitro experiments to rationalize target selection, in order to match target biology with payload biology and disease indications.

• You will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to prioritize targets, develop validation strategies, and ensure timely generation of project packages for milestone transitions in early ADC and RC portfolio.

• Your role will also involve supporting project teams upon request of assay development to deepen our understanding of target biology for later portfolio projects to refine patient selection and potential combination strategies.

• As a highly organized, self-motivated individual, you will stay up to date with relevant technical and intellectual scientific expertise in tumor biology and cancer modelling, particularly as it relates to antibody drug conjugates, and have a genuine passion for this field of research. 

Essential Requirements

• PhD Degree in Biology, Oncology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or a related field, with 3+ years of relevant experience.

• In-depth understanding of solid tumor biology and signaling pathways (cell death/ survival, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, etc) and relevant in vitro model system (2D, 3D, organoid, etc)

• A proven track record of productivity and scientific rigor, as demonstrated by first-author publications in high quality peer-reviewed journals.

• Experience with a range of cellular and molecular biology techniques to characterize human tumor cell function and signaling pathways (e.g. cell culture, cell signaling bioassays, multi-color flow cytometry, incucyte, Western blot, ELISA, qPCR, MSD/Luminex, immunoprecipitation, cell death measurement in primary and cell line cultures, generating and/or analyzing transcriptomic data)

• Experience with genetic tools for cell line engineering (si/shRNA, CRISPR, transfection, transduction)

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills and evidence of delivery in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.

• Ensures your work is compliant with Good Laboratory Practice, Safety, Health, and Environment standards and all other relevant internal AstraZeneca standards and external regulations.

Desirable Requirements

• Prior experience in the biopharmaceutical/biotech industry, and/or familiarity with antibody drug conjugates or other targeted delivery modalities highly preferrable.

• Familiarity with biology of tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunogenic cell death is preferred but not required.

• Experience with managing relationships with external vendors to ensure timely delivery of outsourced requests.

About AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca, we are committed to follow the science. We are a science-based, leading and decisive Oncology enterprise united in our vision to eliminate cancer as a cause of death. We are pioneers, making 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 help discover what’s next. We believe in growing together and providing a place where everyone can have a voice. We are ambitious and collaborative, optimistic in our ability to be resilient and committed to our science-driven approach, with a sharp focus on outcomes. We transform the way cancer is treated to make a meaningful difference to people and patients.

About Waltham/Boston R&D site

Our Waltham, Massachusetts facility develops life changing small-molecule research in North America, with innovative laboratories at the Gatehouse Park Bio Hub, just west of the city center. Our BioHub facility, is a b