Postdoctoral Fellow - Quantifying Conformational Diversity at the Single Molecule Level

R-180242: Postdoctoral Fellow - Quantifying Conformational Diversity at the Single Molecule Level

Location: The Discovery Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK

Competitive Salary, Bonus & Benefits Package

Are you interested in biophysics, physical chemistry, and microscopy? Would you like to apply and expand this expertise to study structural and conformational diversities in diverse novel biologics modalities such as antibody therapeutics, nucleotide-based therapeutics and gene therapy, and IVEBs at the single molecule level? Then join the Analytical Sciences team at AstraZeneca and unlock the power of what science can do.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit.

About our Postdoc Programme

Bring your expertise, apply your knowledge, follow the science, and make a difference.

AstraZeneca’s Postdoc Programme is for self-motivated individuals looking to deliver exciting projects in an encouraging, engaging, and innovative environment. You'll work with multidisciplinary scientific teams from a diverse set of backgrounds and a world-class academic mentor specifically aligned to your project. Our postdocs are respected as specialists, encouraged to speak up, and supported to share their research at conferences, publish papers, achieve their goals.

Make a more meaningful impact in your career, with greater ownership and accountability to make a contribution whilst making a difference to the lives of our patients!

This is a 3-year programme.

About the Opportunity

Join an exciting and unique opportunity to work and lead a project between the BioPharmaceutical Development (BPD) department at AstraZeneca Global R&D and Prof Steven F. Lee's lab (#TheLeeLab) at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge. Our successful postdoc will develop innovative single-molecule microscopy techniques to understand and quantify structural and conformational diversities in diverse novel biologics such as antibody and nucleotide-based therapeutics.

At #TheLeeLab, a world-leading lab that focuses on developing advanced microscopy techniques to study problems in chemistry and biology, you will have access to well-equipped facilities, pioneering microscopy techniques, and scientific expertise on multidimensional and super-resolution techniques. The institutions are close by in Cambridge, allowing fellows to utilize the expertise and opportunities of both.

Project Focus

Our postdoc will join the Analytical Sciences team in BPD and collaborate with other R&D functions within AZ's global R&D and in partnership with #TheLeeLab at the University of Cambridge to develop innovative single-molecule microscopy-based analytical measurement techniques and workflows to quantify structural and conformational diversities in diverse novel biologics modalities such as antibody therapeutics, nucleotide-based therapeutics and gene therapy, and IVEBs.

The project involves a unique academic-industry collaboration aiming to bring expertise from academics and industry and work in partnership to develop innovative single-molecule spectroscopic techniques. It will include microscopy, data analysis, and creative thinking to understand these biologics and develop high-throughput analytical measurement strategies.

Our postdoc will report to Praveen K Sankaran, one of our experienced subject matter experts in analytical measurement techniques and biopharmaceutical development, and Prof Steven F. Lee, Professor of Biophysical Chemistry at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, will mentor and guide you. You will spend around 80% of the time at the #TheLeeLab and the remaining 20% at AstraZeneca Global R&D Centre, Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge. However, it may vary depending on the nature and stage of the project execution.

#TheLeeLab is a leader in single-molecule multidimensional super-resolution microscopic techniques. It uses these methods to study diverse biological systems. Its alums have become successful PIs and industry professionals. It has a strong publication record and a robust research environment to flourish.

What You’ll Do

Day-to-day, our postdoc will be accountable to Prof. Lee and expected to work on experiments and/or analysis. Interactions within the academic group would also be expected day-to-day, with the group forming a lively and productive means to push science forward through discussions and interactions. You will also collaborate with the BioPharmaceutical Development (BPD) department and other research and development functions in AstraZeneca Global R&D, Cambridge.

As an AstraZeneca postdoctoral fellow, you will be supported to drive the success of your project, publish papers, showcase your work at Scientific conferences, and achieve your goals. Our training programme is designed to empower you in your career development journey, support you in developing valuable networks and equip you with transferrable skills.

Qualification, Skills & Experience

Essential Requirements

• A PhD or equivalent in physical chemistry, biophysics or optics preferred.
• Microscopy and/or Spectroscopy Experience
• Biophysics – molecular characterization of biological macromolecules
• Programming Experience
• Good scientific presentation skills
• Excellent scientific track-record

Desirable Requirements

• Super-Resolution microscopy experience
• Microscope construction experience
• Protein chemistry/biological sample handling experience
• Data analysis/Machine learning experience

Reasons to Apply

Our successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to work and lead a project in close collaboration with academic and industry settings. Academic mentor Prof. Steven F Lee from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, and AstraZeneca supervisor Praveen K Sankaran, will support you to drive the success of your project, publish papers, and achieve your goals.

Our training programme is designed to empower you in your career development journey, support you in developing valuable networks.

Why AstraZeneca

The unique positioning of this postdoc within a pharmaceutical company such as AZ, means that you will be able to access large datasets which are not available in the public domain. Moreover, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that methods and techniques you develop will not only be published but will also be used within AZ after the postdoc position concludes, in real-life projects - and that ultimately the work you do will directly impact patients’ lives!

As a key member of a research group and taking a leading role on a Postdoctoral project, we expect regular attendance - a minimum of 3 days per week on the AstraZeneca campus. For laboratory-based scientists, this may be higher.

Given the unique positioning of our Postdoctoral researchers, you may have an additional opportunity to spend some time with an external academic mentor. In this instance, you may be required to spend some of your time working alongside them at their facility as driven by the research project. Your flexibility to meet the needs of the research and the scope of the project is required, and we also look to support you with flexibility in accordance with our standard work policies.

Next Steps

If your passion is science and you want to be part of a team that makes a bigger impact on patients’ lives, then there’s no better place to be.

This advert will be running from Tuesday, 24th October 2023 and, we welcome your application as soon as possible, but ahead of the scheduled closing date of Sunday, 14th October 2024. In the event, that we identify suitable candidates ahead of the scheduled closing date, we reserve the right to withdraw the vacancy earlier than published.

Find Out More

AstraZeneca R&D: https://www.astrazeneca.com/r-d.html

TheLeeLab: https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/group/lee

Professor Steven F. Lee: https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/sl591

AZ’s Next Generation Therapeutics: https://www.astrazeneca.com/r-d/next-generation-therapeutics.html#antibody-therapeutics-0

AZ’s Postdoc Programme: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/postdocs-astrazeneca

Life at AstraZeneca: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/life-at-astrazeneca

AstraZeneca R&D, BPD department: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/bpd

This is what we’re made of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmFx_jr2eFo&t=2s

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We follow all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.

Date Posted

24-Oct-2023

Closing Date

13-Jan-2024

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.