Diagnostic Senior Scientist

Job Title: Diagnostic Senior Scientist 

Location: Cambridge, UK

Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits! 

Introduction to the Role:

Are you an experienced diagnostic scientist with a passion to apply your skills and bring technical expertise and scientific innovation to develop diagnostics for use in a clinical setting? If so, this could be the role for you!   

AstraZeneca delivers companion and complementary diagnostic assays that match medicines to those patients who are most likely to benefit from them. This approach, known as Precision Medicine, is based on those individual characteristics that make some patients respond to treatment better than others. We use this knowledge to develop diagnostic tests that doctors can use to help prescribe the best treatment for each patient.  

About the Role:

As a Senior Scientist, Diagnostics Science, you will use your knowledge of oncology diagnostic technologies and approaches including for e.g. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), multiplex IHC and proteomics, digital pathology, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)etc. to provide scientific and technical expertise to deliver innovative diagnostic approaches to AstraZeneca’s clinical portfolio, through strategic partnerships with leading diagnostic companies and laboratory-based science delivery.  
 

The role holder will be accountable for:  

• Delivery of diagnostic science and innovation projects, through close collaboration with the cross-functional teams.

• Building and maintaining a knowledge of current and new technologies in diagnostics, with a particular focus on oncology, and seeing opportunities for innovation and internal/external collaborations.

• Developing innovative diagnostic science proposals across core therapeutic areas .

• Evaluating the performance of novel diagnostics through delivery of diagnostic feasibility studies and laboratory-based science to timelines and budget.

• Providing scientific and strategic feedback into precision medicine approaches for diagnostic and drug product teams.

• Ensuring that all activities are delivered demonstrating behaviours and values aligned to AstraZeneca Code of Conduct and supporting policies, standards and procedures, including compliant management of Budget, Safety, Health and Environment .

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:  

Essential:  

• Masters / PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant subject.

• Record of delivery in a scientific capability, including peer-reviewed publications.

• Expertise with one or more of these technologies (for example, but not limited to: IHC, digital pathology, NGS, PCR).

• Excellent knowledge of current technology trends in oncology diagnostics and precision medicine.

• Experience of working with external partners or collaborators (ideally academic investigators and diagnostic companies).

• Ability to communicate with cross-functional stakeholders for project updates through oral presentations and progress reports. 

Desirable:  

• Good computational and data analysis skills enabling automated/semi-automated analysis of large datasets (e.g. using AI, software and programming languages).

• Experience developing diagnostic assays in a regulated environment e.g. under In Vitro Diagnostics development standards or within a CAP/CLIA laboratory. 

• Experience of leading projects within a diagnostic or drug development organisation.

• An understanding of drug and companion diagnostic assay co-development and commercialisation and experience working in early and/or late phase projects.

• Demonstrable experience of analytical diagnostic assay validation, use in a clinical testing setting and / or delivery of regulatory submission.

• Knowledge of requirements related to handling of Human Biological Samples.

About AstraZeneca:

At AstraZeneca, we don’t just follow the science — we lead it. Every day, we push boundaries to deliver the next generation of cancer medicines faster and smarter.

We’re a global, science-driven company with a bold ambition: to transform cancer care and eliminate cancer as a cause of death. In Oncology, we take on some of the toughest challenges in medicine, using cutting-edge science, advanced technologies, and strategic partnerships to accelerate progress.

Here, you’ll be part of a team that’s fearless in pursuit of innovation — where your ideas matter, your work has real impact, and your curiosity is encouraged at every step.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media:

• Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

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