• Job Description

  Req#: R-180220

  R-180220: Postdoctoral Fellow - Synthetic Methodology

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

  Competitive Salary, Bonus & Benefits Package

  Do you have expertise in, and passion for organic chemistry? Would you like to be a part of a team that is driving the discovery of first in class therapeutic candidates for difficult to drug targets and to apply your knowledge to impact the discovery of novel bioisosteres of the phenyl ring? Then join the Global Oncology Chemistry department 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

  This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding and ambitious synthetic organic chemist with experience in methodology development and target synthesis to join the Early Oncology chemistry team to explore the synthesis and evaluation of novel bioisosteres of the phenyl ring.

  Our Postdoc will be joining the Global Oncology Chemistry department to collaborate with a multinational team of experienced synthetic organic chemists and drug hunters. You will also benefit from the opportunity to gain experience and work alongside a leading academic supervisor in the field of synthetic organic photochemistry, with a particular focus on the synthesis and application of hetero- and carbo-cycles.

  Project Focus

  We are seeking a pro-active and driven individual to expand the scope of this methodology and provide medicinal chemists with molecular scaffolds with improved drug like features for use within live medicinal chemistry programs.

  Our Postdoc will report to Dr Niall Anderson (Associate Director, Oncology Chemistry) and will be supervised by Dr Olivier Lorthioir (Senior Scientist, Oncology Chemistry) at AstraZeneca. They'll also receive academic mentorship and guidance from Dr Susannah C. Coote, Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Bath.

  What You’ll Do

  As part of this exciting journey, we are seeking an exceptional candidate to drive the discovery of novel bioisosteres of the phenyl ring for inclusion in medicinally relevant drug like molecules. Through discussions with the industrial and academic supervisor, our Postdoc will be responsible for leading and executing the chemistry strategy.

  Key Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Solving complex chemistry problems
  • identification and subsequent optimisation of novel reaction conditions and chemical transformations
  • sharing the research with the chemistry community both internally and externally through presenting at meetings and conferences writing and submitting the work for publication in high impact journals

  Qualification, Skills & Experience

  Our Postdoc programme is aimed at individuals who are either:

  • Within 5-years of obtaining their doctoral degree (PhD, DVM, or MD) - PhD already awarded, or
  • Students, soon to obtain doctoral degrees (the PhD must be awarded within 6 months of joining AstraZeneca)

  Essential Requirements

  • PhD, or equivalent in Chemistry or a related field by the start date
  • Extensive knowledge of contemporary synthetic organic chemistry
  • Ability to independently drive project work towards goals
  • Track record of delivering novel solutions to solve complex chemistry problems
  • Excellent communication skills with a track record of writing and presenting independent research

  Desirable Requirements

  • Experience in catalysis and/or photocatalysis
  • Awareness of the principles of medicinal chemistry and the drug discovery process

  Reasons to Apply

  At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to being a Great Place to Work, where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There is no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We are on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

  As a respected specialist, we will empower you to take appropriate risks, lead the project and “run with it”, along with providing you will all the support you need.

  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, 31st October 2023 and, we welcome your application as soon as possible, but ahead of the scheduled closing date of Sunday, 21st January 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

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

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

  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-Nov-2023

  Closing Date

  27-Nov-2023

  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.

• About the company

  AstraZeneca PLC is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company with its global headquarters in Cambridge, England.

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