Associate Principle Scientist – Product Discovery and Development

Overview

Do you have a passion for Science? Would you like to apply your expertise to make an impact at a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life‑changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to act, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

Pharmaceutical Sciences is a department within AstraZeneca’s Biopharmaceuticals R&D organization with a mission to transform molecules into investigational medicines that address the unmet needs of future patients. Within Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Small Molecule Product Discovery and Development group focuses on advancing a diverse portfolio of small‑molecule projects, including PROTAC‑ and RIPTAC‑based therapeutics, across AstraZeneca’s therapeutic areas. The group’s mission is to translate innovative modalities into high‑quality investigational medicines.

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced individual to join the dynamic Small Molecule Product Discovery and Development group, supporting the small molecule projects in AstraZeneca pipeline. Main responsibilities for this role include:

• Developing analytical methods, formulations, and drug delivery systems with a focus on small molecules
• Serving as a function representative and providing pharmaceutical expertise to global project teams
• Planning and conducting experiments with minimal supervision; generating, evaluating, reporting and interpreting data clearly and reliably; presenting data effectively and making clear and actionable recommendations to project teams and stakeholders.
• Being actively involved with novel formulation development and innovative technology evaluation.
• Identifying and addressing critical issues during daily operations while understanding strategic direction.
• Acting as a scientific leader and influencing across disciplines via project teams and aligning science and technology developments to business needs.
• Working as a member of cross‑functional pharmaceutical science and CMC project teams, in close collaboration with other formulators, analytical chemists, chemists and biologists at Astra Zeneca
• Presenting data at internal AstraZeneca meetings and occasionally at external meetings.

• PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Material Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related scientific disciplines with a minimum of 3 years, preferably 5+ years post‑graduation experience in pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology environment.
• Or MS degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Material Sciences, Biomedical Engineering or related scientific disciplines with a minimum of 7 years, preferably 10+ years industry experience in pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology environment.

• Advanced practical laboratory capability in pre‑formulation, formulation development, and physical properties characterization and their influence on product design and performance.
• Knowledge and hands‑on experience with analytical instruments for the characterization of formulation and drug products particularly in separation and chromatography (e.g., HPLC/UPLC, LC/MS, DLS, DSC, TGA, DVS, PXRD, dissolution).
• Demonstrated ability in designing and optimizing formulations of poorly soluble compounds for preclinical studies including PROTACs & RIPTACs.
• Knowledge and hands‑on experience of enabling formulation technologies including but not limited to amorphous solid dispersion, lipid‑based formulation and nanoparticles.
• Track record of scientific excellence in terms of scientific publications, patents, and/or conference presentations.
• Committed to best practices through a process‑oriented approach and growth mindset.
• Ability to effectively explain complex scientific concepts to a broad, diverse audience.
• Ability to make effective risk‑based decisions under pressure, during…