Level 6 Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship - R&D Oncology
Level 6 Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship - R&D Oncology
Cambridge, UK
Starting base salary of £21,500 + 11% benefits fund + bonus
At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. We’re deeply committed to our strategy of being a great place to work. For us, that includes fostering an environment where everyone can be among inclusive, supportive individuals with curious minds.
A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you’ll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore.
Make the start of your journey a life changing one!
As part of our Early Talent Programme, you’ll be involved in projects and learning opportunities that have real impact from day one.
Being part of our journey and helping us to provide life changing medicine to patients all over the world and transform lives for the better. Making important contributions and embracing our values to deliver on our purpose. Because regardless of role or level, we all have an important part to play in making a positive difference.
Cambridge
Cambridge is one of the most exciting bioscience hotspots in the world. The Discovery Centre (DISC), located at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, is designed to play a central role in our mission to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. As our largest research and development centre in the UK, it will have more than 2,000 people working across therapy areas and drug discovery and development once fully occupied.
About the Apprenticeship Programme
We have two opportunities available in our R&D Early Oncology function. Please see below for more details:
Oncology Targeted Discovery Small Molecule Bioscience Team: Our OTD SM Bioscience team generates preclinical data to support delivery of the next generation of small molecule cancer medicines targeting tumour drivers, the DNA damage response and epigenetics. Working within a multidiscipline team you will play a pivotal role in supporting the progression of oncology drug discovery projects through delivering robust and high-quality data using in vivo preclinical models. We’ll encourage you to develop novel therapeutics and biomarkers, identify new targets and publish your work. This role is fundamental in all stages of the drug discovery and development process – and as your experience grows, so will your role and career prospects. You should have a keen interest in discovering more about the cellular drivers of cancer and be enthusiastic to learn how to deliver experimental in vivo laboratory work.
Immune Oncology (IO) drug discovery Team: This is your opportunity to learn from a team of expert scientists in state-of-the-art laboratories and contribute to the development of cutting-edge anti-cancer therapies. Using the latest technologies, you will gain invaluable experience in how to design, conduct and analyse in vivo experiments to assess the function of our candidate drugs and help to dissect the mechanism of action of our novel therapeutics that target the immune system to treat cancer. You should have a keen interest in discovering more about how to modulate the immune system to treat cancer. You should be enthusiastic to learn how to deliver experimental in vivo laboratory work. A high regard for animal welfare, rigorous record-keeping and attention to fine detail are critical to the role.
As a member of the OTD SM bioscience in vivo or the Immune Oncology (IO) drug discovery teams in Early Oncology, to fulfil your role, you will be trained to:
Work with laboratory mouse models of cancer following UK Home Office (HO) regulations. This will include:
obtaining a HO Personal License (PIL).
care for laboratory rodents following high ethical standards and closely evaluating animal welfare
preparation of drugs and their administration to laboratory rodents through different routes
culturing and implantation of cancer cells
measuring of tumour volumes and analysis/reporting of their growth and responses to treatments
Analysis of biomarkers of samples ex-vivo (protein and gene expression changes).
Analyse, interpret, and report data results to project teams, while learning about cancer drug discovery.
Conduct literature reviews to gain greater understanding of the science behind the drugs
Work flexibly and collaboratively with in vivo scientists across the oncology portfolio, and apply your technical expertise to a number of projects delivering efficacy, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies to aid drug discovery and development.
To be responsible for planning and executing complex scientific in vivo studies while maintaining open communication with multiple stakeholders.
To prioritise your own workload whilst demonstrating excellent team-working skills. This will be key to this role.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively within cross-functional, multidisciplinary project teams.
This position will require some out of hours work, including weekend work on a shift pattern, which will be compensated.
Training and Development
AstraZeneca will sponsor you through your Lab Science Degree with our university provider Manchester Metropolitan University.
The apprenticeship combines working, earning a full-time salary, with fully funded part-time learning (on average 1 day/week). This will give you the opportunity to gain a Level 6 Lab Science degree qualification, just as you would if you went to university full-time, with the advantage of gaining relevant work-life skills and the excitement of helping to develop new medicines whilst taking your first steps towards a rewarding career.
We truly value Early Talent– their thoughts, ideas and contributions. So throughout the programme, you’ll be encouraged and inspired to speak up, have a voice and make an impact.
Skills and Capabilities
We would be looking for the following attributes from our successful applicants:
Enthusiastic individuals who are keen to learn and with a genuine scientific curiosity
Able to act independently but also to work and contribute in a team environment
Good organisational skills with an excellent attention to detail & a proactive approach to problem solving
The ability to work on multiple tasks and understanding how to prioritise
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
Entry Requirements
Five GCSEs (or equivalent) grades 9 to 5 including Maths, English and Science
To have achieved or predicted to achieve a minimum of 104 UCAS points at A-level (grades BCC) or an equivalent science based discipline (e.g. BTEC DMM/T-Levels considered).
Open and close dates
To apply for this position, please click the apply link.
Opening date of advert: 13th January 2025
Closing date of advert: midnight 16th February 2025
Successful candidates will be asked to attend a virtual Assessment Day during w/c 24th March 2025
Should you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations, please let us know on your application.
At AstraZeneca, we aim to set you up for success, and we recognise the challenges that starting a new job can bring. We therefore offer a relocation package to help with the costs and process of moving for candidates who currently live more than 60 minutes from the site location for this Apprenticeship.
This is a 4 -year fixed term contract opportunity.
Start date for the apprenticeship programme is 1st September 2025
Where can I find out more?
Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/
Inclusion & Diversity: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/inclusion-diversity
Career Site: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/
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 authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.
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