Senior Scientist - Cell Therapy Safety

AstraZeneca GmbH; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca Cambridge is seeking a Senior Scientist to shape the safety strategy for cellular therapeutics, including autologous, allogeneic, and in vivo CAR-T. You will design and execute assays applying molecular biology and immunology approaches to develop pre-clinical safety methods.

Based in the Discovery Centre, this role emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, external engagement with academia, and publishing findings to strengthen AstraZeneca’s leadership in cell therapy safety.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in immunology, cellular biology, or related discipline.
• Strong track record in immunology and/or molecular biology and cell therapy development; practical experience in molecular biology, flow cytometry, cell therapy discovery, and toxicology assessment; post-doctoral experience preferred.
• Experience designing and/or executing in vitro and/or in vivo studies to determine safety and/or efficacy of cellular therapeutics.
• Preferably, experience as a safety scientist in cell therapy development from project conception through to candidate selection.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams with strong communication skills (presenting, manuscript preparation, influencing, relationship building).
• Excellent publication record, commensurate with career stage.
• Ability to operate in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice standards, Safety, Health & Environment requirements, and relevant external regulations.

Responsibilities

• Model development: Develop and validate new in vitro models to predict toxicity, immunogenicity, and tumorigenicity for cellular therapeutics; contribute to non-clinical toxicology packages.
• Scientific problem-solving: Identify and solve complex scientific problems; champion innovations that advance capabilities.
• External engagement: Collaborate with leading academics; publish in high-quality journals; contribute to scientific networks and communities.
• Innovation: Drive innovations to support internal and external presentations and publications.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work with scientists across CPSS and partnered functions to translate biology into safety strategies.

Skills

Immunology

Molecular biology

Cell therapy development

Flow cytometry

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in immunology / cellular biology

Tools

Flow cytometry

Job description

Job Title: Senior Scientist(CLD)–Cell TherapySafety

Location: Cambridge, UK

Do you have a background in cell therapy safety assessment and want to shape the safety strategy for innovative cellular therapeutics? Are you excited to expand yourexpertisein the non-clinical safety assessment of next-generation cellular modalities? If yes, AstraZeneca could have the role for you.

About the role

We areseekinga highly motivated Senior Scientist to join our laboratory-based Cell TherapySafety TeamwithinCell Therapy Translational and Safety Sciences. This role is based at ourstate-of-the-artDiscovery Centre in Cambridge, UK, offering a collaborative environment across disciplines to drive innovation in 21st-century pharmaceutical research.

At AstraZeneca, we value diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration. We believe teams are most creative when individuals contribute different ideas and experiences in an environment where those differences are welcomed and respected. This is how we foster continuous innovation, learning, and growth—for our people and for patients.

What you’ll do

You will primarily support our growingcellular medicineportfolio;includingautologous,allogeneicand in vivo CAR-T. You will design and execute assays and applymolecular biology andimmunology/cell biologyapproaches to develop methods for assessingpre-clinicalsafety.

Key responsibilities include

• Model development: Develop andvalidatenew in vitro models to predict and assess toxicity, immunogenicity, and tumorigenicity for cellular therapeutics; contribute to broader non-clinical toxicology packages for novel modalities.

• Scientific problem-solving:Identifyand solve complex scientific problems;championscientific and technological innovations that advance strategic capabilities.

• External engagement: Collaborate with leading academics; publish in high-quality journals; actively contribute to scientific networks and communities.

• Innovation: Drive innovation to support internal and external presentations and publications to strengthen AstraZeneca’s scientific leadership.

• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with scientists across CPSS and partnered functions to translate biological insights into safety strategies for pioneering therapeutics.

Essential qualifications and experience

• PhD or equivalent in immunology, cellular biology, or a related discipline.

• Strong scientifictrack recordinimmunologyand/or molecular biologyandcell therapydevelopment, with practical experience inmolecular biology,flow cytometry, cell therapy discovery, andideallytoxicology assessment; post-doctoral experience preferred.

• Experience designing and/or executing in vitro and/or in vivo studies todeterminesafety and/or efficacy of cellular therapeutics.

• Preferably, experience as a safety scientist incell therapy development from project conception throughtocandidateselection.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams withstrong communicationskills (presenting, manuscript preparation, influencing, relationship building).

• Excellent publication record,commensuratewith career stage.

• Ability tooperatein compliance with Good Laboratory Science standards, Safety, Health & Environment requirements, and relevant external regulations.

Who you are

You are a motivated, creative, and innovative scientist with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset. You enjoy solving complex problems with a goal-focused approach and havestrong communication

and presentation skills. You thrive in an open, positive, and collaborative working environment.

Why AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca, curiosity and courage drive our science.We’reinspired by the possibility of doing what has not been done before. Empowered to step up, we challenge fear of failure, explore the biology of complex diseases, and make bold decisions—celebrating successes and learning from setbacks along the way.We have the ambition to be a world leader in cell therapydevelopment to meet the unmetcurativeneeds in oncology and autoimmune diseases.

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.