Senior Scientist - Preformulation

Do you have a passion for Science? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact 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 action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

About AstraZeneca in Waltham, MA:

The Waltham R&D site focuses on oncology research in North America, and is situated within a biopharma cluster of research institutions, medical centers, pharmaceutical companies and startups. The Boston region is consistently ranked #1 globally for research, investment, talent recruitment and lab space. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most cutting-edge technology and lab spaces, all designed to encourage collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to crafting a culture of inclusion and partnership.

The Waltham site offers a variety of amenities to help boost efficiency and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, full-service cafeteria, beach volleyball court, hiking trails and plenty of free parking, with charging stations now available for electric vehicles, and a shuttle service to local transportation hubs. The campus, also known as the Boston BioHub, is one of the largest and most dynamic life-science research hubs in the region. It is home to more than 800 scientists working in nine different pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The site is also home to the AstraZeneca Incubator, a program that helps emerging companies advance novel and innovative healthcare solutions to meet the needs of patients.

Summary of the group:

Pharmaceutical Sciences is a department within AstraZeneca Biopharmaceuticals R&D with a mission to transform molecules into investigational medicines, meeting the unmet needs of future patients. Advanced Drug Delivery is a department within Pharmaceutical Sciences. Our portfolio of projects spans traditional small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides to RNA-based therapeutics across AstraZeneca's therapy areas and our mission is to transform diverse modalities into investigational medicines.

We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Scientist to join our Pharmaceutical Sciences team in Waltham, MA. In this role you will work closely with biologists, chemists and pharmacokinetic scientists at the forefront of drug discovery. You will be responsible for the preformulation assessment of small molecules and for the design and evaluation of formulations for non-clinical pharmacology studies. Furthermore, you will be actively involved in the design and selection of candidate drugs that have the potential to become life changing medicines. You will be collaborating with other small-molecule preformulation teams in Cambridge, UK & Gothenburg, Sweden.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Pharmaceutical Technical Lead (PTL) on Drug Discovery and Early Global Project Teams
• Lead developability and preformulation assessment of new chemical entities (NCEs)
• Formulate NCEs using standard and enabling technologies (e.g. lipid delivery systems, amorphous solid dispersions) for non-clinical studies
• Plan and lead lab-based experimental work in accordance with project timelines
• Keep up to date with the scientific literature and proactively apply existing and novel approaches to projects
• Contribute to internal and external publications, posters, conference presentations as well as participate in local and global workstreams

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Education: Master's degree or PhD in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related field

• Experience: M.S. and 4+ years of relevant experience or PhD and 0+ years of relevant experience

Required Skills:

• Practical experience in formulations selection including solubility enabling formulations

• Practical experience of analytical method development across a range of techniques including chromatography and mass spectrometry

• Strong technical knowledge of physicochemical and solid-state properties and their relationship to drug product design and performance

• Strong record of scientific excellence evidenced by publications, patents and presentations

• Detailed understanding of principles, applications and management of Safety, Health and Environment (SHE)

• Ability to handle several projects at the same time, using initiative and creativity to meet agreed objectives and timelines

Desired Skills:

• Proven track record of problem solving and demonstrated excellent practical laboratory skills

• Knowledge of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetic concepts

• Good team working, communication and networking skills and an ability to engage relevant AstraZeneca staff in new initiatives

• Ability to mentor peers for enhanced individual and team performance and development

• Able to demonstrate the drive and energy to establish the role and make a difference

• Focus on delivery under pressure

About AstraZeneca

We are a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business and our innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. We push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. We follow the science. We put patients first. We play to win. We do the right thing. We are entrepreneurial.

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