Associate Scientist, Bioassay Development

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Posted on Wednesday, September 4, 2024

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 Gaithersburg, MD:

Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life-changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. 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 inspire collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

The Gaithersburg site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria and copy center. This is where you’ll find newly-designed, activity-based work spaces to suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.

Summary of the group:

The Bioassay, Biosafety and Impurities analytical group is accountable for developing state-of-the-art methods to evaluate product quality by measuring biological activity as well as detecting, characterizing, and quantifying product variants and process-related impurities. The group enables product understanding, manufacturing process development, formulation, drug product development and regulatory filings. This group is accountable for control systems, including specifications, comparability, and shelf-life strategies required by regulatory agencies and also performs technical transfer of methods to clinical quality control and commercial launch sites and technical support and lifecycle management post-launch.

The candidate will be independent, self-motivated, and eager to tackle a broad range of responsibilities. This full-time position within the Bioassay, Biosafety and Impurities Department, within Biopharmaceutical Development, is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will perform in vitro biological assays for the purpose of testing and characterizing the activity of biotherapeutic products under development, including: monoclonal antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, and inhaled biologics. In addition, the successful candidate will assist in the development and optimization of state of the art, robust, and fit-for-purpose biological assays. Specific duties and responsibilities include:

  • Perform in vitro cell-based and noncell-based biological assays according to standard operating procedures and under supervisor instruction. Assays include: ELISAs, immunoassays, HTRF, cytotoxicity assays, and reporter gene assays.
  • Culture cells (mammalian and other) and generate cell banks.
  • Train on state-of-the-art technologies, including high-content imaging, to assist in developing and optimizing in vitro bioassays under supervisor instruction/guidance.
  • Make detailed observations, analyze data, and interpret results.
  • Document detailed experimental plans, results, analyses, and conclusions in a timely manner.

Education & Experience Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cellular or Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related field.

Experience: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and 0+ years of relevant industry or academia experience.

Required Skills:

  • The successful candidate will have hands-on experience performing 1 or more of the following in vitro biological assays: ELISAs, immunoassays, cytotoxicity assays, reporter gene assays, HTRF, and/or alphaLISA.
  • Direct, hand-on experience culturing cells (mammalian or other) and aseptic technique.
  • Self-motivated and willing to work collaboratively and cross-functionally
  • Excellent organization skills, detailed-oriented, and strong written and oral communication skills.

Desired Skills:

  • Experience with authoring and reviewing laboratory procedures, experimental plans, and data analyses with keen attention to details.
  • Previous industry experience is a plus
  • Knowledge of CMC and GMP practices is a plus

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognising their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organisation to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey.

So, what’s next!

Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

Date Posted

03-Sep-2024

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.AstraZeneca requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.