Associate Principal Scientist / Senior Research Scientist – Peptide Chemistry

KellyOCG; Göteborgs kommun; Sur place; SEK 900 000 - 1 300 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

AstraZeneca is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist or Senior Research Scientist to join the Peptide Discovery team in Gothenburg, Sweden. The role focuses on designing and synthesizing therapeutic peptides, with a strong emphasis on solid-phase synthesis, automation, and advanced analytical characterization.

The successful candidate will lead multi-step syntheses, optimize routes, and collaborate across teams and CROs to advance peptide drug discovery.

Qualifications

• PhD in peptide chemistry, medicinal chemistry or organic chemistry (or extensive peptide chemistry experience).
• “Three years minimum postdoc or biotech/pharma lab experience in peptide chemistry or adjacent peptide projects.”
• Strong background in peptide synthesis, design, purification and characterization.

Responsabilités

• Synthesize peptides from milligram to gram scale for therapeutics and conjugation chemistry.
• Design and troubleshoot synthetic routes for complex peptides.
• Library synthesis of peptides using automation.
• Perform LC-MS analysis and HPLC purification of peptides.
• Stay current with advances and apply external knowledge.
• Develop and implement new environmentally-friendly methods for peptide drug discovery.
• Maintain accurate ELN records and collaborate with CROs.
• Lead design of drug-like peptide molecules with ADME and developability considerations.
• Contribute to SAR campaigns to optimize potency and selectivity.
• Provide project leadership and coordinate with internal/external stakeholders.

Connaissances

Peptide chemistry

Solid-phase synthesis

Multi-step synthesis

Automation library synthesis

LC-MS analysis

HPLC purification

Data analysis (MS/LC)

SAR campaigns

Project management

Peptide bioinformatics

Structure-based design

Formation

PhD in peptide chemistry

PhD in medicinal chemistry

PhD in organic chemistry

Outils

LC-MS

HPLC

Chromatography

Mass spectrometry data analysis

Description du poste

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Principal Scientist or a Senior Research Scientist to join our dynamic Peptide Discovery team within the HIT Discovery department at Discovery Sciences. The role is located at our site in Gothenburg, Sweden.

We are open to appointing at either Senior Research Scientist or Associate Principal Scientist level, depending on the successful candidate’s experience and background.

As a peptide chemist, you will be responsible for the design and chemical synthesis of therapeutic peptides and reagents. We are looking for someone who has a good understanding and background in solid-phase synthesis to support delivery of our peptide portfolio. In this laboratory-based position, you will be responsible for multi-step synthesis, purification and analytical characterisation of complex peptides. You will work independently within research teams and with internal or external stakeholders. This role requires a strong background in peptide chemistry, excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Key responsibilities

• Perform the synthesis of peptides in milligram to gram scale both for therapeutic peptides and peptides for conjugation chemistry
• Design and troubleshoot the synthetic route to complex peptides
• Library synthesis of peptides using automation.
• LC-MS analysis and HPLC purification of peptides
• Stay current with advances in the field and bring external knowledge
• Develop and implement new and environmentally friendly methods to advance our peptide drug discovery efforts
• Maintain accurate records and ELN
• Collaborate and share knowledge with CROs

Additional Key Responsibilities

• Participate to the design of drug-like peptide molecules utilizing medicinal chemistry knowledge, including property-based optimization, and an understanding of ADME, pharmacokinetics and optimal physicochemical properties
• Understanding of peptide chemistry bioinformatics, structure-based design and confidently navigate complex result-driven databases
• Chemistry lead for pipeline projects ensuring workflows are followed in a seamless fashion
• Proficient in peptide chemistry design, synthesis, purification, characterization
• Deep knowledge and experiences in solid phase peptide synthesis
• Experience with chromatography and mass spectrometry data analysis, method development, and applications
• Experience designing and executing SAR campaigns for therapeutic peptides, including optimization of potency, selectivity, and developability properties

Additional requirements

• Experience in project management and leading projects and meetings
• Experience with database management, structure-based design and a deep understanding of peptide bioinformatics

Associate Principal Scientist

• You have a PhD in peptide chemistry, medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry (or extensive experience in the field of peptide chemistry)
• You have a minimum of three years work experience as a post doc in academia, or as a scientist in biotech or pharma in a peptide chemistry laboratory or working on peptide- adjacent projects

Senior Research Scientist

• You have a PhD in peptide chemistry, medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry (or extensive experience in the field of peptide chemistry) or equivalent work experience

To support a smooth and timely start to the assignment, candidates who already have the right to work in Sweden without requiring visa sponsorship are particularly encouraged to apply.

We welcome your applications not later than October 16, 2026.

Assignment information:

This is an initial 12 month full-time assignment opportunity based on-site at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg, Sweden.

This is an opportunity to join AstraZeneca’s dynamic Peptide Discovery team in Gothenburg and contribute directly to the discovery and development of therapeutic peptides. If your experience aligns with either the Senior Research Scientist or Associate Principal Scientist level, we would be pleased to hear from you.