Senior Associate Scientist

This is what you will do:

We are searching for a dedicated and innovative Senior Associate Scientist to enhance our genomic medicine within Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease. The chosen candidate will assume a pivotal role as a valuable member of the Alexion Genomic Medicine Cardiology team. Our mission revolves around pioneering genomic treatments for patients facing rare genetic cardiomyopathies. We are particularly interested in applicants with a robust background in pharmacology and disease biology.

In this position, you will utilize your expertise in cardiac physiology to validate targets, plan and execute critical pre-clinical efficacy and safety studies, supporting the development of cardiac gene therapies from pre-clinical research to clinical development. You will collaborate closely with the biology lead, contributing preclinical in vivo data to ensure project timelines are met.

You will be responsible for:

• Applies technical skills and functional knowledge to characterize rodent models of cardiomyopathy and to conduct in vivo experiments testing pharmacodynamic cardiac effects of novel gene therapy.
• Support novel target discovery efforts to deliver gene therapy to treat genetic cardiomyopathies.
• Work with extended gene therapy research teams on in vivo pharmacology efforts for programs under development.
• Perform in vivo studies to assess cardiac function (e.g., echocardiography, pressure-volume, telemetry system) following pre-approved protocols and IACUC guidelines.
• Data analysis, summary, and meeting with key stakeholders to present results.
• Be able to adapt standard methods and techniques by applying breadth of knowledge, as well as develop new techniques to evaluate efficacy in preclinical rodent cardiomyopathy models such as HCM, DCM and ACM.
• Perform basic animal care skills including handling, sample collections, dosing, and tissue collections etc.
• Maintains compliant laboratory records, consistently and accurately documents all laboratory activities in laboratory notebooks and internal technical reports.

You will need to have:

• Bachelor with 2-4 years of experience or Master with 1-2 years of experience
• Education in cell biology and/or disease biology, pharmacology  
• Extensive hands-on experience and demonstrated expertise in working with animal models and translationally relevant pre-clinical models.
• Knowledge of cardiomyopathy pathogenesis, bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics/genetics, computer science or statistics.
• Proven record of publication in scientific journals and record of continuous productivity.
• Proven track records on building great relationships within functions and cross-functionally in collaborative environment.
• Ability to keep accurate and organized records.
• Extensive experience in rodent heart disease models to support drug discovery efforts.
• Familiarity with echocardiography to evaluate cardiovascular pathophysiology in rodents.
• Implement in vivo general procedures such as blood sampling, dosing, anesthesia, necropsy, handling, and restraint laboratory animals etc.
• Support hypothesis-driven research by implementing new methodologies and experimental protocols based on literature search and approved IACUC protocol.
• Ensure animal welfare and accurate recordkeeping.

We would prefer for you to have:

• Experience with the following is a plus: functional cardiomyocyte assays, assessment of cardiac cell function, confocal microscopy, high content microscopy, live cell imaging.
• Knowledge of cardiovascular disease mechanisms is highly preferable.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working give 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. Join us in our unique and ambitious world. 

AstraZeneca requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.

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 authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

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