Laboratory Scientist – Biochemistry & Assay Development

Laboratory Scientist – Biochemistry & Assay Development (full time)

Location:

Pivot Park Oss | Amsterdam UMC campus. Full-time – 100% Lab-based. Acerta Pharma, part of the AstraZeneca group, is dedicated to discovering and developing novel therapies for haematological malignancies. We are strengthening our research activities in the Netherlands and preparing to relocate to Amsterdam in early 2027 to establish the AZ Netherlands R&D hub. Until that time, you will be working from our facilities in Oss.

After the move, you will be based at our new site in Amsterdam. The ability to commute to both locations or openness to relocating is expected.

• Develop, optimise, and run biochemical assays – including enzymatic, binding, and activity‑based assays – to support drug discovery programs.
• Execute experiments independently and troubleshoot assay performance, applying sound biochemical reasoning to resolve issues promptly.
• Build and manage biochemical screening cascades from primary through orthogonal and counter‑screens to support compound progression decisions.
• Apply key biochemical concepts (enzyme kinetics, protein‑ligand interactions, dose‑response analysis, selectivity profiling) to design rigorous, fit‑for‑purpose assays.
• Analyse experimental data, interpret results in a biochemical context, and communicate findings clearly to project teams and stakeholders.
• Collaborate across disciplines – including medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and cell biology – to translate scientific questions into robust experimental approaches.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, quality expectations, and laboratory safety standards.
• Mentorship: provide guidance on assay setup, troubleshooting, and data analysis to junior team members where appropriate.

• Master’s degree or equivalent relevant scientific experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience developing and running biochemical assays (enzymatic, binding, or protein‑based) in a drug discovery setting in industry.
• Demonstrable experience planning, running, and troubleshooting experiments independently, with the ability to adapt quickly when results deviate from expectations.
• Solid understanding of core biochemical concepts such as enzyme kinetics, including Michaelis‑Menten kinetics and steady‑state analysis, protein‑ligand binding, selectivity, and assay interference mechanisms.
• Practical experience with data quality assessment, statistical analysis of assay results, and application of appropriate experimental controls.
• Clear and confident communication skills, with the ability to share findings effectively with colleagues and multidisciplinary project teams.
• A collaborative, mature attitude and a strong commitment to working safely and responsibly in the lab.
• Fluent in English.
• Prepared to work from our laboratories in Oss until we move to our new site in Amsterdam UMC campus, planned for early 2027.

• Experience building or executing biochemical screening cascades within a drug discovery context, including primary screening, counter‑screen, and selectivity profiling within an industry setting.
• Familiarity with biochemical platform technologies such as TR‑FRET, Alpha Screen/AlphaLISA, FP, SPR, or related biophysical methods.
• Experience with data handling tools or scripting (e.g. Python, R) for assay data analysis and visualisation.
• Background in drug discovery, pharmacology, or related haematological or oncology research.
• Hold an EU passport.

• A dynamic, innovative, international working environment, where you can be part of the development of new medicines that can make a difference to patients’ lives.
• The opportunity to work in a highly professional, diverse, close‑knit team, where you can learn a lot from each other and count on one another.
• The opportunity to further develop yourself, for example, into a position offering even more responsibility.
• Competitive salary and secondary benefits including 8% holiday allowance, 27 holidays on a full‑time basis. Additional: office closure between Christmas and New Year + Good Friday.
• Collective pension with a fixed percentage personal contribution.
• Bonus scheme.
• Vitality of our…