Senior Research Scientist - Protein Scientist

This job is with AstraZeneca, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

Location: Cambridge, UK

Salary: Competitive with excellent benefits!

Introduction to the Role: Biologics Engineering Function in the UK is based at our new state-of-the-art Discovery Centre (DISC) located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Biologics Engineering is responsible for the discovery and optimisation of biological candidate drugs to support all therapy area drug discovery pipelines and for the development of in-house biologics discovery platforms and novel drug modalities to support future drug discovery efforts.

About the Role: We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to join Biologics Engineering within the Protein Sciences & Analytics (PS&A) team, supporting the generation of Bioconjugates. AstraZeneca are looking to strengthen capability in conjugation workflows and enable data-driven optimisation of bioconjugate design and production. The successful candidate will combine hands-on conjugation expertise with strong analytical and data science capabilities, working at the interface of protein science, chemistry, and computational analysis.

Accountabilities:

• Express, purify, and characterize antibodies and protein constructs (IgG, VHH, fusion proteins) to support conjugation workflows.
• Independently perform bioconjugate generation using a variety of conjugation strategies - for example, lysine/cysteine chemistries and enzymatic methods.
• Execute analytical QC for conjugates and proteins using SEC, HIC, RP‑HPLC, LC‑MS, and SDS‑PAGE; ensure data integrity and timely reporting.
• Support linker‑payload and conjugation route development by preparing high‑quality protein starting materials and performing small‑scale conjugation trials.
• Contribute to functional assays and collaborate with cell biology and biologics profiling teams for downstream evaluation.
• Maintain accurate electronic lab notebooks, SOP compliance, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in workflows and automation.
• Present data at team meetings and contribute to technical reports for governance and project progression.
• Mentor junior staff and support training in protein handling and QC techniques.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Deliver purified proteins and conjugates to specification and timelines for multiple pipeline and technology projects for bioconjugates.
• Troubleshoot purification and conjugation challenges; propose solutions to improve yield and quality.
• Apply biophysical and biochemical characterization to assess protein quality, stability, and conjugation readiness.
• Collaborate closely with conjugation scientists, analytical teams, and project leads to ensure seamless integration of protein and conjugation workflows.
• Uphold data integrity standards; contribute to lab organization and process optimization.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• PhD in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology or related discipline.
• Strong foundation in protein expression, purification, and characterization; experience with bioconjugation is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques (SEC, HIC, RP-HPLC, LC‑MS) and data interpretation.

Required Skills:

• Hands‑on experience in protein biochemistry: expression systems (mammalian, bacterial), purification (affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion), and QC.
• Ability to learn and apply bioconjugation chemistries and workflows.
• Competence in analytical characterization and troubleshooting.
• Experience with scientific databases, e.g. Gendata Biologics.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
• Familiarity with high‑throughput, automated purification systems.
• Effective communication skills for cross‑functional collaboration and data presentation.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with structural biology or mechanistic studies of protein complexes.
• Direct experience with bioconjugates, for example, antibody-drug and antibody-peptide conjugates (ADCs and APCs).
• Exposure to complex biologics formats and developability assessments.
• Knowledge of AI/ML-based approaches to protein design.
• Experience with scripting or data analysis tools (e.g. Python, R).
• Experience contributing to publications or patents.

Why AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca is a science-led, global biopharmaceutical company, with a focused portfolio in core therapies. At AstraZeneca we turn ideas into life changing medicines. We are committed to improving the health and lives of people across the globe, through our research and development platform, and a growing late-stage pipeline. Working in over 100 countries, we have strength in emerging markets, and our medicines are used by millions of patients and clinicians worldwide. Working here means being results-oriented and working together to make the impossible a reality. Here you will apply cutting-edge biophysics, automation, and AI-enabled analytics to help transform the future of cancer treatment. We unite decisive, science-driven teams who act fast on smart risks, speak up, and challenge convention-always guided by evidence. With a deep pipeline and unparalleled data, you will collaborate with diverse experts, learn across disciplines, and see your work directly influence how new medicines move forward. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we bring unexpected teams together to unleash bold thinking that turns complex problems into meaningful progress for patients.

So, what's next? Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can't wait to hear from you.