ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A PhD or equivalent in cell biology, chemical biology, biochemistry, pharmacology or a related field
• A background in the application of biochemical and cellular assays and technologies to study oligonucleotide therapeutics, gene knockdown, tissue targeting, endocytosis or related areas
• Extensive knowledge of interrogating cell biology, ranging from mechanistic analysis of cellular processes to the development, function, and dynamics of complex biological systems
• Ability to work within and across a diverse cross-disciplinary team (includes cell biologists, biophysicists, medicinal chemists and other postdoctoral researchers) but able to plan and problem-solve independently
• Consistent track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals

Our Postdoc programme is aimed at individuals who are either:

• Within 5-years of obtaining their doctoral degree (PhD, DVM, or MD) - PhD already awarded, or
• Students, soon to obtain doctoral degrees (the PhD must be awarded within 6 months of joining AstraZeneca)

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Experience with measurement of gene expression (qPCR), flow cytometry, high content imaging or biophysical technologies (SPR). These are not prerequisites; training in these techniques will be provided if necessary.
• Awareness of recent developments in the fields of chemical biology in general and tissue-targeted delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics in particular.

REASONS TO APPLY

Oligonucleotides (e.g., siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides) offer a promising way of delivering therapeutics for targets that are not druggable with traditional small molecules. However, RNA-based therapeutics are often hampered by limited delivery of the oligonucleotide to the cell type of interest. We have used small molecule-siRNA conjugates to hijack a novel plasma protein-tissue receptor pair to improve cellular delivery of RNA-based therapeutics and are seeking a postdoctoral research fellow to help develop this emerging methodology beyond initial proof-of-concept experiments into an RNA delivery platform that can be used to enable novel oligonucleotide-based drug projects. Publications in high-impact factor journals are also expected to be generated from this project.

Our Postdoctoral Fellow will craft, plan, and analyze in vitro experimental studies on novel small molecule-siRNA conjugates to achieve the delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics to a range of cell types.
You will study cellular uptake and subsequent gene knockdown using in vitro techniques such as cell cultivation, flow cytometry, qPCR, ternary complex formation assays, microscopy studies, and eventually in vivo PoC experiments in preclinical animal models (in collaboration with in vivo bioscientists). Beyond the functional responses of the oligonucleotide conjugates, you will also study aspects of the molecular mode of action of this novel delivery mechanism.
Your experimental results will be used in an iterative process to drive the design and analysis of new, more effective oligonucleotide conjugates. To achieve this, you will collaborate with AstraZeneca scientists (medicinal chemists, cell biologists, biophysicists) and postdocs from several fields within and across our global community. You will also work very closely with drug discovery scientists working on an active clinical drug project.
You will have a high level of control and influence over the project, and ample opportunities to learn new technical and leadership skills.