Senior Scientist – Membrane Protein and Computational Scientist

Join AstraZeneca's Critical Reagents group within the Biologics Engineering department, where we are pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Our passion for discovery drives us to explore novel therapeutic approaches across various diseases, including Oncology, Respiratory, Inflammatory, Cardiovascular, and Infectious diseases. As part of our collaborative network, you will have the opportunity to engage with new and exciting technologies that are transforming patient care.

Accountabilities:

As a key team member, you will plan and execute experiments focused on isolating, engineering, and characterizing antibody and antibody-like therapeutics targeting complex membrane proteins. Collaborate with scientists to develop research plans, conduct experiments, analyze data, and present findings to project teams and the department. Your strong work ethic, organizational skills, and communication abilities will be essential in driving success.

In this role, you will:

• Complete wet-lab experiments (80%) and implement computational modelling/AI (20%) approaches to direct/refine findings
• Design, express, and purify membrane protein antigens for lead generation and characterization
• Apply high-throughput methods to characterize epitopes of membrane protein-reactive lead candidates
• Develop and maintain in silico structural pipelines integrating computational tools and models
• Implement tools like Rosetta/RFdiffusion for protein design and optimization
• Design and implement experiments evaluating novel protein therapeutics, including therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action studies
• Interpret data and report findings to multidisciplinary project teams

Essential Skills/Experience:

Educational requirements:

Master’s Degree in Biochemistry, Structural Biology or related field with 7+ years of proven experience in industry (preferred) or academia

Doctoral Degree with 0-2 years of proven experience in industry (preferred) or academia

Required skills:

• Membrane proteins (GPCRs, ion channels, or transporters), including expression, purification, and characterization
• Independently conceiving and delivering project plans, including construct design, bacterial and mammalian cell culture, protein expression, and purification (affinity/size-exclusion chromatography)
• Protein characterization techniques, including SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, kinetics measurements using SPR or bilayer interferometry (Octet)
• Flow cytometry or high-throughput methods for epitope prediction/characterization of membrane proteins
• Computational biology tools such as structure prediction, molecular docking and in silico prediction
• Designing experiments, developing and optimizing protocols, interpreting experimental results, and communicating results effectively

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Novel membrane protein display approaches, including nanodisc, virus-like particles, styrene-maleic acid lipoparticles, or polymer formulations

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we spark 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.

AstraZeneca is a place where courage meets curiosity. Our commitment to eliminating cancer as a cause of death drives us forward with cutting-edge science and technology. With multiple indications and high-quality molecules at all stages of our pipeline, we are empowered to make bold decisions that prioritize patient outcomes. Our collaborative research community unites academia and industry to tackle some of the hardest-to-treat cancers. Here, you can build a rewarding career dedicated to improving millions of lives.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now to join our team!

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.