Senior Scientist (In Vivo Core Skills), Animal Science & Technologies in Cambridge

At AstraZeneca, ideas become life-changing medicines. This role sits at the heart of in vivo science, where rigorous experimentation, high standards of animal welfare and scientific curiosity come together to advance treatments for some of the world’s most challenging diseases. Based at our dynamic Cambridge site, this position offers the chance to deepen specialist in vivo expertise, influence study design and delivery, and see the impact of your work on real patient outcomes.

As a Senior Scientist in the AST Core Skills team, the role leads and delivers specialist procedures, drives refinements and innovation, and ensures that Core Skills are seamlessly integrated into in vivo studies across multiple therapy areas. Working largely independently within a multidisciplinary environment, this position combines hands-on technical excellence with leadership, training and operational stewardship.

Ready to tackle complex in vivo challenges and shape how we deliver high-quality studies?

Accountabilities:

• Lead the planning and execution of specialist in vivo procedures and platforms, ensuring they are delivered to high scientific and regulatory standards.
• Provide contingency support across sections and therapy area-led studies, helping maintain continuity and quality when priorities shift or new demands arise.
• Maintain robust data integrity, traceability and contemporaneous documentation for all activities, including in-life data capture, time accounting and animal welfare records.
• Uphold technical and regulatory standards, contribute to protocol optimisation and workflow improvements, and help implement innovative approaches and refinements.
• Collaborate closely with Study Leads to align specialist tasks with study timelines, welfare considerations and facility constraints.
• Take operational stewardship for specialist equipment and spaces, ensuring they are maintained, compliant and ready to support evolving scientific needs.
• Mentor and train less experienced colleagues, share best practice across teams and champion continuous improvement in in vivo research.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Current or past Home Office personal licence holder (modules A, B & C) or equivalent qualification.
• Current or recent competency in a broad range of in vivo skills.
• Proficient working with a range of rodent animal models.
• Ability to lead within at least one Core Skills area.
• Understanding of 3Rs principles.
• Problem-solving skills related to in vivo research.
• Fully conversant with all aspects of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Directive 2010/63/EU, associated Home Office guidelines and their implications.
• Understanding of current principles and concepts in own area of work.
• Experience with data integrity, traceability, and contemporaneous documentation systems.
• Fluent in verbal and written English language.
• Highly motivated, independent scientist able to work effectively as part of a team and develop ideas by incorporating the views of others.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Proven experience of cross-sectional delivery and leadership experience in coordinating specialist activities across multiple stakeholders and study teams.
• Ability to lead across multiple core skills.
• Experience as NACWO or deputising for NACWO.
• Experience in complex necropsy procedures.
• Experience as trainer/assessor.
• Experience refining perioperative care and anaesthesia.
• Experience contributing to evidence-based animal welfare refinements, welfare monitoring systems and/or in vivo innovations.
• Proficient in IT and digital tools, including ability to troubleshoot.
• Experience in pharmaceutical industry.
• Post-graduate degree in relevant sciences, or proven track record of specialist in vivo work.
• Experience with root cause analysis, critical reflection/review of study outcomes, troubleshooting and/or implementation of corrective actions.
• Experience with experimental design and data analysis.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility.

AstraZeneca offers an environment where scientific curiosity is encouraged, learning never stops and people are empowered to explore new ideas that push the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare. Here, data, technology and biology come together to tackle complex diseases from multiple angles, supported by strong collaborations with academia, biotechs and industry partners. Colleagues work across diverse therapy areas and stages of development, gaining exposure to different modalities and approaches while building long-term careers grounded in meaningful science. Resilience, open dialogue and shared purpose underpin how teams operate, with access to development programmes, mentoring and opportunities to publish when impactful science comes to life.

If this role excites you and matches your experience, apply now to join us on our journey to deliver life-changing medicines!

SO, WHAT’S NEXT? We welcome your application no later than 13th 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.