Thesis Work, 60 Credits - Development of Multiplex Virtual Cell Classification from Conventional Histological Stains for the Assessment of Respiratory and Immune-Mediated Disease Indications

Are you passionate about combining laboratory science, digital pathology, and artificial intelligence to advance disease research? In this thesis project, you will contribute to innovative approaches for visualising and quantifying disease-related changes, supporting the development of smarter tools for studying respiratory and immune-mediated diseases.

About AstraZeneca:

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centered biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercializing 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 the Opportunity:

As a Thesis Worker at AstraZeneca, you’ll find an environment that’s full of unique opportunities and exciting challenges. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue your areas of interest whilst equally developing a broad skillset and knowledge base to get the best out of your experience. You’ll be working on meaningful projects to make an impact and deliver real value for our patients and our business.

Thesis work description:

Conventional histochemical stains, such as haematoxylin & eosin, are the workhorses of tissue pathology, yet the rich biological information they encode — about cell types, tissue compartments, and disease-related changes — remains largely underutilized compared to what multiplexed immunofluorescence (IF) can reveal. This thesis project investigates whether deep learning can bridge that gap by predicting virtual multiplexed IF directly from conventional stain images, unlocking marker-level information without additional staining steps.

The project involves wet-lab work, conventional histochemical and IF staining, whole-slide tissue scanning, and image analysis using AI. You will work with mouse and human tissue from respiratory and immune-mediated disease indications, applying spatial biology techniques to develop an innovative workflow for more information-rich tissue characterization.

Key Objectives

• Staining optimization — refine pretreatment conditions for combined IF–convential histochemical protocols on the same tissue section, preserving both conventional stain quality and fluorescence signal integrity.
• Immunofluorescence multiplexing — design and optimize multiplex immunofluorescence panels targeting key cell types and tissue compartments in respiratory and immune-mediated indications.
• Virtual IF prediction — apply a deep learning pipeline to translate conventional histochemical stain images into predicted fluorescence outputs across multiple tissue types to perform cell classification
• Quantitative validation — benchmark predicted outputs against matched ground-truth data to assess accuracy and biological relevance.

Placement:  

This is an on-site position at AstraZeneca Gothenburg.

Please note, AstraZeneca does not support with accommodations for this role

Structure:

• Duration: Start Spring term 2027
• ·Credits: 60

Essential Requirements:

• Enrolled in a Master’s program within biomedical engineering, biotechnology, bioinformatics, computational biology, biomedicine, molecular biology, pathology, data science, computer science, or a related field.
• Basic practical laboratory experience, preferably including histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), or assay optimization.
• Ability to work carefully, reproducibly, and in accordance with laboratory protocols.
• Interest in, and preferably some experience with digital pathology, image analysis, machine learning, or deep learning.
• Ability to plan experiments, analyze quantitative data, and document methods and results in a structured and traceable manner.
• Strong problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and a systematic approach to experimental optimization and validation.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbally and in writing.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience with multiplex staining, whole-slide imaging, tissue segmentation, cell phenotyping, or digital pathology software.
• Familiarity with basic statistical analysis.
• Interest in respiratory or immune-mediated diseases.

So, what’s next?

Apply today and take the chance to be part of making a difference, making connections, and gaining the tools and experience to open doors and fulfil your potential. We can't wait to hear from you!

We welcome your application as soon as possible, but ahead of the scheduled closing date October 22, 2026. 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.

Date Posted

01-okt.-2026

Closing Date

22-okt.-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.