Scientist (In Vivo), Immunology​/Pharmacology in Gaithersburg, Maryland

Job Title

Join us to build differentiated medicines in immunology At AstraZeneca, we are investing in the next wave of immunology and autoimmune disease innovation.

We are looking for a strong in vivo scientist who wants to do more than run studies: someone who can generate robust data, think critically about biology, and help shape programs from target validation through early development. This role sits within our Early Respiratory & Immunology organization and is ideal for a scientist who brings deep hands-on in vivo pharmacology expertise, thrives in a collaborative research environment, and is motivated by translating complex immunology into decisions that matter for patients.

You will contribute to programs in areas such as SLE, arthritis, and other immune-mediated diseases, working closely with project teams to answer mechanistic and translational questions with high scientific rigor.

Why this role stands out This is not a purely executional in vivo role. We are looking for someone who can combine technical excellence, disease insight, and sound experimental judgment. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence study design, interpret data in biological context, and contribute meaningfully to portfolio progression. You will be positioned to:

• Own critical in vivo study execution across disease and mechanistic models in immunology
• Generate translationally relevant data that helps teams make faster, better decisions
• Partner cross-functionally with pharmacology, immunology, translational sciences, and project leadership
• Grow into study leadership and become a go-to expert for in vivo immunology approaches
• Contribute to a high-impact portfolio focused on serious diseases with substantial unmet need

What you will do You will design, execute, and interpret in vivo studies that support discovery and early development programs in immunology. You will work with a high degree of independence while collaborating closely with colleagues across functions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and running in vivo studies in disease and mechanistic models relevant to autoimmune and inflammatory biology
• Administering candidate molecules and collecting blood, tissue, and other biological samples with strong technical proficiency
• Supporting biomarker strategy through sample collection, assay planning, and data interpretation
• Processing tissues and generating downstream data using approaches such as flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, multiplex immunoassays, RNA isolation, and qPCR
• Evaluating and interpreting primary data to identify meaningful pharmacology and mechanism-related insights
• Preparing clear study summaries and reports that enable project teams to act on results
• Maintaining the highest standards in animal welfare, ethics, documentation, data integrity, and study quality
• Depending on experience, leading in vivo study activities for discovery and early development programs

What we are really looking for We are especially interested in candidates who bring a combination of the following:

• Strong hands-on in vivo expertise with confidence operating independently in a research setting
• A solid grounding in immunology and pharmacology, with the ability to connect experimental outcomes to disease biology
• Experience generating high-quality samples and data across both in vivo and ex vivo workflows
• Scientific curiosity and critical thinking, not just technical execution
• Clear communication skills, including the ability to explain data, caveats, and implications to diverse stakeholders
• A collaborative mindset and the maturity to work productively across disciplines

Essential qualifications

• BSc required in immunology, pharmacology, biology, or a related discipline + 5 years of experience
• MSc preferred, or equivalent depth of hands-on scientific experience + 3 years of experience
• Proven experience in in vivo research using animal models
• Demonstrated capability in tissue collection and sample processing
• Experience with one or more relevant techniques, including flow cytometry and analysis, immunofluorescent staining, multiplex ELISA or related immunoassay platforms, RNA isolation, and qPCR
• Good understanding of immunology, pharmacology, and physiology
• Experience in data analysis, study documentation, reporting, and archiving
• Familiarity with statistical methods and quality-focused experimental practice
• Strong written and spoken English communication skills

Highly desirable experience Candidates will stand out if they have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Industry experience in biopharma or drug discovery
• Research in autoimmune or inflammatory disease, such as SLE, arthritis, or IBD
• Experience with specialized in vivo techniques or development/optimization of in vivo models
• Use of translational biomarkers to bridge preclinical findings to clinical questions
• Exposure to working in matrixed project teams where data drives portfolio decisions

What success looks like in this role In this position, success means consistently…