Senior Scientist (Fixed Term Contract) Oncology Research

AstraZeneca GmbH; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking a Senior Scientist to join the Immune Cell Engagers Discovery team in Cambridge, UK. You will lead immunology research to support immune-oncology projects from concept to data generation, designing assays and interpreting results that inform MOA and target validation.

The role requires a PhD in immunology or related field, extensive experience in immune assays and a collaborative, publication-driven mindset.

Qualifications

• A PhD, or equivalent experience, in immunology/Immuno-oncology/cancer biology.
• Extensive background in immunology and/or immuno-oncology.
• Experience of a range of in-vitro and ex-vivo technicalskills for the analysis of human immune cell functions via multiparameter flow cytometry, ELISA/multiplex assays, ELISPOT, primary immune cell isolation and co-cultures, cell killing assays (TDCC, ADCC, CDC, ADCP), TIL isolation and phenotyping.
• Molecular biology skills including gene expression analysis and stable cell line generation.
• Working experience with immune cell assays and/or characterization is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, negotiating and collaboration skills together with evidence of having used these skills to support problem solving and delivering the projects in a collaborative environment.
• Depth of understanding and enthusiasm for immunology and immuno-oncology.
• Proventrack record of scientific accomplishments, as evidenced from publications/patents.
• Data processing, statistical analysis, and interpretation.
• Experience in preparing written scientific reports (e.g., manuscripts) and oral presentations (e.g., slides, posters).
• Ability to record protocols and experiments in a timely manner and maintain an excellent electronic notebook (eLNB).

Responsibilities

• Working in this laboratory-based position within the Immune Cell Engagers Discovery group, you will develop, design, conduct and analyse in-vitro and ex-vivo experiments to assess the function of our candidate drugs and help to dissect the mechanism of action of novel therapeutics targeting the immune system for cancer therapy.
• You will also review emerging literature and internal data to help in identifying new potential targets and contribute to target validation activities.
• A strong foundation in immunology / immuno-oncology, and an in-depth technical expertise for the analysis of immune function and phenotype is essential for this role.
• As a highly organised and self-motivated individual with a strong lab/practical background, you will stay up to date with relevant technical and intellectual scientific expertise in tumour immunology and have a genuine passion for this field of research!

Skills

Immunology

Immuno-oncology

Flow cytometry

ELISA multiplex

ELISPOT

Cell isolation

Co-cultures

Gene expression

Stable cell lines

Data analysis

Scientific reporting

Publications

3D cell culture

Education

PhD in immunology/immuno-oncology/cancer biology

Tools

Spectral flow cytometry

AI/ML

Electronic lab notebook

Job description

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’repassionate 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 bignew ideasto life.

Are you ready to work on one of the most excitingOncologypipelines in industry?

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 toultimately eliminatecancer as a cause of death.

We areseekingahighly motivatedSenior Scientistwith deep scientific and technicalexpertisespanning both adaptiveand innateimmune cell biologywitha track recordof scientific excellence to joinImmune Cell Engagers Discoveryteamin Cambridge, UKfora12-monthperiod. As a Senior Scientist,you will be a key member of a team focused on supporting immune-oncology projects through the drug discovery process. You will bring your theoretical and practicalexpertisein immunology toestablishassay systems and deliver datasets that will have direct impact onimmune-oncology research projects.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Working in this laboratory-based position within the Immune Cell Engagers Discoverygroup,you will develop, design, conduct and analysein-vitroand/orex-vivoexperiments to assess the function of our candidate drugs and helpusto dissect the mechanism of action of novel therapeutics targeting the immune system for cancer therapy. You will also review emerging literature and internal data to help inidentifyingnew potential targets and contribute to target validation activities.

A strong foundationin immunology / immuno-oncology, andan in-depthtechnicalexpertisefor the analysis of immune function and phenotype is essential for this role. As a highlyorganisedandself-motivated individual with a strong lab/practical background, you will stay up to date with relevant technical and intellectual scientificexpertisein tumour immunology and have a genuine passion for this field of research!

Essential Requirements

• A PhD, or equivalent experience, in immunology/Immuno-oncology/cancer biology.

• Extensive background in immunology and/orimmuno-oncology.

• Experience of a range ofin-vitroandex-vivotechnicalskills for the analysis of human immune cell functionsviamultiparameter flow cytometry, ELISA/multiplex assays,ELISPOT,primary immune cellisolation andco-cultures,cell killing assays(likeTDCC, ADCC, CDC, ADCP),TILsisolation andphenotyping.

• Molecularbiology skills includinggene expression analysis and stable cell line generation.

• Working experience with immune cellassaysand/orcharacterization is highly desirable.

• Strong interpersonal, influencing, negotiating and collaboration skills together with evidence of having used theseskillsto support problem solving andindelivering theprojects ina collaborative environment.

• Depth of understanding andstrongenthusiasm for immunology and immuno-oncology.

• Proventrack recordofscientific accomplishments,asevidentfrom publications/patents.

• Data processing, statisticalanalysis,and interpretation.

• Experienceinpreparing written scientific reports (e.g.,manuscripts) and oral presentations (e.g.,slides, posters).

• Ability to record protocols and experimentsin a timely mannerandmaintainan excellent electronicnotebook(eLNB).

Desirable Requirements

• We encourage applications from candidates who haveexperience in the evaluation of immunecellfunctionsandindevelopingand deployingcomplex immunological assaysto understand the MOA of novel therapeutics.

• Expertisein fieldsof T-cell engagers,T cell exhaustion, tumour myeloid and/or NK biology.

• Experienceinvisualizing/quantifyinghigh content multi-parameter flowcytometrydata/transcriptomic datasets.

• Candidates who candemonstrateproficiencyinleveragingAI technologies, including machine learning, data analysis, and algorithm development to enhance research outcomes, alongside strongproblem solvingskills, to enable integration of these tools into scientific workflows are strongly preferred.

• Prior experience with spectral flow cytometry.

• Working experience with 3Dcell culture.

• Experienceinworking with patient-derived tumours/TILs

• Knowledge of the 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:

Here, scientific rigor meets real-world impact. You will collaborate with inquisitive colleagues, academic partners and biotech innovators to tackle complex disease biology, supported by leading technologies in data science and AI. We combine ambition with kindness, encouraging bold ideas while learning fast from both successes and setbacks. By contributing your experiments and insights, you help convert biology into therapies at speed—advancing a pipeline designed to reach more patients, across more indications, with purpose and care.

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.