Associate Scientist

Position: Associate Scientist

Location: Speke, Liverpool, UK

Competitive Salary & Excellent Company Benefits

Make a more significant impact to patients’ lives around the globe.

With our ground-breaking pipeline, the outlook is forward-thinking. There’s no better time to join our global, growing enterprise as we lead the way for healthcare and society!

The Flu Biopharmaceutical Development (Flu-BPD) group is a multi-disciplinary scientific function providing expertise in Virology, Process Development, and Analytical Development. The team is responsible for the development of candidate vaccine virus strains for the seasonal, live attenuated, influenza vaccine (LAIV).

The LAIV Virology Group is responsible and accountable for the generation and characterisation of candidate vaccine strains.

In this role, you will work within the LAIV Strain Development team to help deliver the seasonal influenza vaccines strain(s). You will work primarily on the generation and characterisation of vaccine candidates and will have opportunities to work on the other key processes involved in getting strains into manufacturing, as and when required.

This is an ambitious, yet highly rewarding, lab-based role within a commercial setting, providing the rare opportunity to have a visible and direct impact on public health.

Typical Accountabilities

You will have a minimum of a Life Science-based degree, and a Master’s degree in a relevant subject area (E.g. virology, microbiology, molecular biology) is highly desirable. Practical, hands-on laboratory experience is required, and excellent communication, organisational, and time management skills are a must. The role holder must be able to perform their duties with minimal direction once fully trained and be prepared to deliver against tight deadlines.

The role holder will:

• Perform relevant lab-based techniques and experiments, based on a standard methodology.
• Communicate data to the Senior Scientist (LAIV Virology) and the team, on a frequent basis.
• Assist, and work closely with, other team members in the lab to ensure all seasonal process timelines are met.
• Interact with colleagues in Quality Control and Quality Assurance teams during the strain development season, to ensure smooth progression of candidates from the research environment, into the quality/manufacturing process stages.
• Contribute to team projects, and trouble-shooting ideas, as and when required.
• Be proactive in their own learning of subjects relevant to the viral vaccines field (E.g. carrying out regular literature reviews, and constructively engaging with other co-workers within Flu-BPD, and in other areas on site).
• Searches for information which may improve research methodology and procedures
• Ensures that work is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
  
  
  

Essential

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• To have a minimum of a life science degree, preferably based on virology, microbiology, or molecular biology.
• Hands-on laboratory work experience, within a research, academia, contract testing, or biopharmaceutical setting.
• Knowledge of GLP, in particular manufacturing and/or laboratory practices and quality systems
• Ability to prioritise workload in order to work to tight timelines.
  
  
  

Desirable

• A Masters (MSc or MRes) degree in virology, microbiology, or molecular biology.
• Practical laboratory experience working with viruses.
• Practical laboratory experience of cloning, reverse genetics, sequencing analysis, and other molecular biology techniques.
• Knowledge of influenza virus and/or other RNA viruses.
  
  
  

Why AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca, we 're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

So, what’s next?

Complete your application by COB 15th October 2024.

Applications must include your current CV, and a cover letter which presents your motivation and suitability for the role.