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Senior Scientist. Enzymology and Bioconjugation

Job details
Posting date: 02 July 2025
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 30 July 2025
Location: London, London, N1C 4AG
Remote working: Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week
Company: Astrazeneca
Job type: Permanent
Job reference: R-230207_1751470625

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Summary

Job Title: Senior Scientist, Enzymology and Bioconjugation -  Oncology Targeted Discovery Chemistry, Early Oncology

Location: London, UK

Salary:  Competitive + Excellent Employee Benefits!

Application Deadline: July 23

Introduction to role:

In the Oncology Research and Development, we relentlessly follow the science, challenging the status quo to deliver more effective treatments to patients in need. Our dedication means we purposefully push back the limits of knowledge to change the practice of medicine. To ensure no patient is left behind, no matter what stage of disease. Fast-paced, it takes agility and responsiveness to stay committed in our pursuit of excellence. We work with focus to seek the unanswered questions - innovating, challenging accepted norms, quick decision-making and taking smart risks. A place of trust, it's an opportunity to take accountability, be brave, speak up, step up and redefine Oncology, now and in the future. Be a part of improving lives. This is the time to join the team who is confident that cures for cancer are within our grasp.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated laboratory-based scientist to join the Bioconjugation group in Oncology Targeted Discovery (OTD) - Chemistry Site, London, UK. You will be part of a team working collaboratively with other disciplines, playing a pivotal role in the delivery of robust and high-quality data to support Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) discovery projects within the Oncology portfolio. You should have a background in Oncology/Biology/Enzymology/Chemical Biology and a strong passion for experimental work and delivering data from the laboratory. You will expertly design and conduct laboratory experiments, develop analytical methods, analyse and report experimental data, use scientific judgment, and communicate effectively to relevant stakeholders and contribute to early-stage drug discovery decision making.

Accountabilities:

  • A full-time laboratory-based position to develop and optimise in-vitro enzymatic/protease assays to support mechanistic studies of protein conjugate linker cleavage and drug release

  • Develop and validate assays to quantify enzyme kinetics and activity

  • Develop, optimise and scale up drug discovery research lab experiments independently by applying the techniques of Bioconjugation of small molecules to antibodies and related scaffolds

  • Perform routine interpretation of data with little or no guidance, with a clear understanding of its implications within drug discovery and effectively communicate to relevant stakeholders in a clear and concise manner

  • Work independently within a team and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders

  • Remain up to date with relevant recent advances and relevant technology including published papers/patents with peers

  • Authoring and reviewing relevant documents including laboratory notebooks, protocols and reports

  • Ensures own work, and work of peers, follows Good Laboratory Practice, Safety, Health and Environment standards and all other relevant internal AstraZeneca standards and external regulations

Essential Skills/Experience:

  • Ph.D in Biochemistry, Enzymology, Bio/Chemical engineering or relevant discipline or M.Sc/B.Sc in above disciplines with relevant industrial experience

  • Extensive hands on experience in designing enzymatic assays to evaluate drug conjugate linker cleavage and assess in-vitro stability

  • Skilled in analytical instruments such as LCMS and HPLC for intact protein characterisation and small molecule quantification with focus on assay reproducibility

  • Experience in enzymatic activity profiling and specific activity determination using plate based assays (fluorescence and absorbance)

  • Familiarity with high-throughput screening and assay automation platform

  • A track-record of protein/related scaffold modification experience

Desirable Skills/Experience:

  • Hands on experience in small molecule and protein/bioconjugate characterisation by LCMS, UV/Vis spectroscopy and size-exclusion/hydrophobic interaction/ion exchange chromatography HPLC

  • Experience with executing preparative chromatography purifications using AKTA and TFF systems

  • Experience with Antibody-drug conjugates or related conjugates

So, what's next?

  • Please complete your application before the below closing date July 23rd. We look forward to hearing from you.

Where can I find out more?

  • 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

Join us today and be a part of the change!

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