Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in chemistry in water (CiW) and sustainable technologies - 24 month fixed term contract

Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in chemistry in water (CiW) and sustainable technologies

24 month fixed term contract

Location: Macclesfield, UK

Competitive salary and benefits

We are currently looking to recruit a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Early Chemical Development (ECD) to work on the development of sustainable technologies for manufacture of our medicines. This is a fixed term 24 month contract as part of a major UK grant working towards the sustainable manufacture of pharmaceuticals. You will join our team in ECD, Pharmaceutical Sciences (PS) on our Macclesfield Campus, UK.

As a dedicated BioPharmaceutical Research & Development organisation, we accelerate promising early-stage assets and lifecycle management programmes. From discovery to late-stage development, we always follow the science.

Pharmaceutical Sciences is a function within the AstraZeneca Biopharmaceuticals R&D unit that creates innovative, efficient solutions by transforming molecules into investigative medicines meeting unmet needs of future patients. The function has four departments: Early Chemical Development, Advanced Drug Delivery, Early Product Development and Manufacturing, and Predictive Science, Digitalisation and Automation. Our wide-ranging portfolio of projects includes traditional small molecules, nucleotide-based therapies and nano medicines across AstraZeneca’s therapy areas.

Early Chemical Development (ECD) is a world class CMC department with responsibility for early phase process development and scale up of new chemical entities (NCEs). The department’s responsibilities span from early engagement with Discovery (Medicinal) Chemistry groups through to manufacture of Phase II Clinical material, and our key skill areas include Analytical Chemistry, Crystallisation, Isotope Chemistry, Large-Scale Laboratory (Kilo-Lab) Manufacturing, Process Chemistry, Process Design, Process Engineering, Route Design and Separation Science.

What you’ll do

At AstraZeneca we have set an ambitious carbon-reduction target, aiming to become carbon negative for all residual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 (Ambition Zero Carbon 2030). We are looking for a hardworking, creative and experienced organic chemist to join the team. The successful candidate will work in two discrete research areas, both of central importance for improving the sustainability of the production of medicines.:

We have an established CiW programme at AZ, having demonstrated successful application of CiW to a wide variety of the most commonly used reactions en-route to active pharmaceutical intermediates (API), but we, and the industry as a whole, have a lot to learn if we are to apply this approach routinely to the large scale synthesis of API. Work to increase our understanding of the recovery of key platinum group metal-based catalysts from our processes.

Organic solvents are a key carbon footprint (CFP) ‘hotspot’ in lifecycle assessment analyses for medicines. In fact, the use of organic solvents and their subsequent incineration is often the largest contributor to the CFP for the production of a medicine. Through increased understanding and development of large-scale application of CiW, you will have the opportunity to develop chemical processes that can significantly reduce the associated CFP for a medicine.

Platinum Group Metals complexes are indispensable catalysts in modern organic synthesis, with API production being no exception. These metals display unique reactivity, and their performance is still vastly superior to base metal alternatives in many cases. These metals are high-value, and their mining and isolation are associated with large CFP, as well as requiring the use of millions of litres of fresh water per kilogram of PGM isolated.  Therefore, the recovery of these precious metals is a key activity toward more sustainable medicines. You will use improvements in fundamental understanding, including in metal speciation under a variety of conditions (solvent, pH etc), as well as empirical observation to increase significantly the fraction of precious metal we are able to recover from a given process.

Both research areas described above are rich in examples, but generally poor in fundamental understanding. Thus, studies that increase this understanding are highly publishable and could help to reduce the carbon footprint for the production of medicines, not just at AstraZeneca, but across the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.

You’ll also work as part of the Sustainable Future Factory SMMIP consortium project, you will represent AZ and collaborate with a range of academic and industrial partners, and you’ll join a vibrant community of over 100 industrial Post Docs working in AstraZeneca on exciting science projects.

The individual will have strong synthetic chemistry experience, (ideally) including chemistry in water and will utilise this knowledge and their own creativity to develop more sustainable processes for the production of life-saving medicines.  A passion for working in new scientific areas, understanding state-of-the-art literature and developing solutions to technical and project challenges is a key requirement for the role. By driving innovation, helping to secure intellectual property, and contributing to as well as writing presentations and publications you will develop your own scientific profile and improve AstraZeneca’s scientific reputation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Investigate the use of CiW to manufacture API; Understanding speciation and recovery of platinum group metals from waste streams.

• Develop ways of working and best practice for applying CiW at scale and in a GMP environment.

• Take sub-projects from CiW mg scale ‘lab hits’ to processes that isolate multitone quantities of key intermediates, considering the effects on the environmental footprint through lifecycle assessment, potential regulatory impact and key practical factors to consider when scaling up reactions in water.

• Contribute to development and implementation of a strategy to deliver chemistry-in-water processes within Early Chemical Development.

• Work as a member of cross-functional teams, with a large degree of independence representing your own department or area of expertise

• Enhance AZ’s scientific reputation by publishing high calibre research, engaging with our external partners and building professional networks

Essential criteria

• Minimum requirement of Bachelor’s degree with a science or engineering background and will hold a PhD/DPhil, ideally but not essentially with a chemistry-in-water focus or have equivalent experience.

• Experience of developing and optimising organic reactions and reaction work ups.

• A passion for chemistry and for applying new technologies.

• Practical lab skills, including analytical techniques to support impurity and solvent tracking.

• Ability to use literature databases e.g. SciFinder, Reaxys

• Experience of leading your own work.

Desirable criteria

• Awareness of wider application of chemistry-in-water in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Good collaboration skills.

• Excellent communication skills across interfaces of subject area, culture, and expertise both internally and externally.

• Ability to develop and analyse multiple solutions to problems

• Ability to use coding and AI tools to enhance delivery of your role.

• Lab-based pharmaceutical industry and/or process development experience, using a broad range of practical techniques

• Strong self-development focus, with an interest in learning about new scientific areas

Where can I find out more?

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

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Learn about the Sustainable Future Factory SMMIP project brochure

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

Date Posted

05-May-2026

Closing Date

19-May-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

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.