Senior Scientist

Position: Senior Scientist
Location: Speke, Liverpool
Competitive salary and Excellent Company Benefits 

Make a more significant impact to patients’ lives around the globe with our ground-breaking pipeline, the outlook is forward-thinking. Be proud to be part of a place that has achieved so much, yet is still moving forward. 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 role is in a team is responsible for the development of candidate vaccine virus strains for the seasonal, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).

What you’ll do

• Support the LAIV Virology group lead with scientific mentoring & training of more junior/less experienced team members, having scientific oversight of seasonal CVV development work, & providing communications to key colleagues in other teams across the flu franchise.
• Work within the LAIV Virology team to develop & characterise seasonal influenza candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs).
• Apply your technical expertise to problem-solve, trouble-shoot, & continuously improve/optimise scientific processes within strain development, and provide scientific contribution & review to departmental projects.
• Perform relevant lab-based techniques and experiments, based on a standard methodology.
• 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.
• Be proactive in your own learning of subjects relevant to the live viral vaccines field (E.g. carrying out regular literature reviews, and constructively engaging with other colleagues within Flu-BPD, and in other areas on site).
• Assess and report data with a clear understanding of its reliability and interprets findings and draws authoritative conclusions and recommendations so that their significance can be appreciated.
• Provide technical instruction to team and allocates administrative work where possible
• Collaborate with specialist scientific and/or technology networks within Pharmaceutical Development.
• Present information for discussion at team meetings.
• Work as a member of cross-functional teams, representing own department or area of expertise.
• Liaise with colleagues from other subject areas with the purpose of discussing project-related matters, sharing experiences and reporting progress.
• Ensure that work is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• Provide expertise and assistance to colleagues on LAIV virology, strain development-related subjects.
• Carry out focused research projects aimed at improving our LAIV candidates and our processes.

Essential criteria

• Masters or PhD in virology, molecular biology, or vaccinology.
• Strong lab experience, ideally in a supervisory position.
• Experience working with viruses (RNA viruses preferrable)
• Demonstrable experience of key lab-based techniques including: mammalian cell culture, molecular virology (E.g. cloning, transfection, sequence analyses) virus propagation, virus characterisation (E.g. TCID50, plaque assay, qPCR)
• Foundational knowledge of vaccine industry
• Ability to analyse data & prepare for presentation to/discussion with different audiences
• Demonstrable problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to perform effective literature searches & apply findings to new or novel areas of work within the group
• Strong team working and communication skills

Desirable criteria 

• Demonstrable experience working with influenza viruses
• Knowledge & experience of GMP

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.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!  

Date Posted: 15 Jan 2025

Closing Date: 31 Jan 2025

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.