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Senior Separation Scientist

Job details
Posting date: 30 June 2025
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 28 July 2025
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 0AA
Remote working: Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week
Company: Astrazeneca
Job type: Permanent
Job reference: R-230206_1751291553

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Summary

Job Title: Separation Scientist / Senior Separation Scientist

Locations: Cambridge, UK

Salary: Competitive + Excellent Employee Benefits!

Applications Deadline: July 14

Introduction to the role:

At AstraZeneca, innovation is more than just research. As one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, we're focused on providing innovative, effective medicines that make a real difference in important areas of healthcare. We're investing in a state-of-the-art research centre and corporate headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, and we aim to bring together the finest talent in business and academia. Join us, and you'll be part of a brand-new vision for a critical industry, making a difference world-wide.

Oncology is a core therapy area and growth platform at AstraZeneca and our vision is to deliver life-changing medicines that improve outcomes for patients most in need. As part of Oncology Chemistry, world leading group with a history of delivery and innovation, Analytical and Structural Chemistry plays an important role in advancing new oncology drug projects to make a positive impact on changing patients' lives. The team operates in a highly cross disciplinary environment in close collaboration with scientists from the Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Bioscience, DMPK and Pharmaceutical Science departments to advance the Oncology project pipeline.

Accountabilities:

As Separation Scientist / Senior Separation Scientist, you will be part of a team of highly motivated scientists contributing to chiral and achiral analysis, preparative separation and quality control of new chemical entities. You will be delivering through hands-on experimentation to ensure that critical compounds are isolated and characterised within challenging deadlines. As a member of this team, you will be closely working with synthetic, medicinal and computational chemists to progress chemistry objectives in projects at various stages of drug discovery.

At Senior Scientist level, you would be expected to lead local scientific and technology development projects and/or contribute to global initiatives to ensure that our separation science capabilities meet the future needs of AstraZeneca's drug discovery projects.

You will be expected to have effective levels of communication and scientific drive, co-ordinating effectively with the other members of the analytical and synthesis teams to drive sample progression.

Experience and technical knowledge of chromatographic separations, particularly preparative separations would be an advantage, however, full training will be provided.

Responsibilities of the role

  • Provide hands-on chiral and achiral separation science support to drug discovery chemistry using state-of-the art chromatographic instrumentation

  • Develop methods for analysis and purification of novel compounds using a range of chromatographic techniques (HPLC, UPLC and SFC)

  • Ensure performance and data quality of analytical instrumentation and automation platforms

  • Pro-actively enable the development of advanced methodologies and/or automated solutions to increase lab capability and/or productivity. Work with the team to suggest process, technology and methodology improvements.

  • Contribute to a vibrant and ambitious organization focused on innovation & project delivery; collaborating closely with scientists across the discovery organization

  • Participate in Oncology Chemistry activities such as SHE, training, recruitment etc.

Skills and experience

  • PhD / BSc in Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry

  • Good knowledge of analytical and/or preparative chromatographic techniques (HPLC, SFC, HPLC-MS) including method development and instrument troubleshooting

  • Detailed understanding of the use of analytical techniques to solve complex scientific questions

  • A track record of applying analytical chemistry techniques to solve scientific problems

  • Knowledge of pharmaceutical drug discovery

  • Ability to work in multidisciplinary team / project / function

  • Excellent communication skills

  • First-rate time management skills, forward planning and delivery focus, leading to good team working and a high level of self and team delivery

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, gender or gender orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law.

So, what's next...

  • Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Do you want to be part of building an innovative pipeline and deliver potentially high impact treatments to patients? If this describes you, don't hesitate in submitting an application today, we are looking forward to speaking with you soon.

  • We encourage you to apply online before midnight on July 14.

Competitive salary and benefits package on offer.

The successful candidate will have access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, A performance recognition scheme and a competitive, generous remuneration package.

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete the full application on our website at your earliest convenience - it is the only way that our Recruiter and Hiring Manager can know that you feel well qualified for this opportunity. If you know someone who would be a phenomenal fit, please share this posting with them.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

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