Scientist – Animal Sciences & Technologies (12-month secondment/fixed-term

at  AstraZeneca

Scientist – Animal Sciences & Technologies (12-month secondment/fixed-term contract)
Cambridge, UK
Competitive salary & benefits
At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. We’re passionate about the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world!
Our vision is to push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine, transform the lives of patients, and to ultimately eliminate cancer, respiratory, cardiovascular and renal diseases as a cause of death.
The Animal Sciences & Technologies (AST) Department supports and drives in vivo science for AstraZeneca in Cambridge. We conduct studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of candidate drugs. Use your scientific and animal technical expertise in the AST Department. Work with disease area focused teams to conduct animal studies and support the growth of our drug portfolio.This is a vivarium-based role best suited for a professional with experience in animal work keen to work in a fast-paced environment as a positive, highly collaborative team member.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A Levels, HNC, HND in a related field (or equivalent) or relevant experience
• Experimental in vivo skills in rodents with current or previous Home Office personal licence holder (modules A-B or 1-2/1-3) or equivalent qualification
• Fully conversant with all aspects of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Directive2010/63/EU, associated Home Office guidelines and their implications.
• Ability to work independently in cross-functional teams
• Fluent in verbal and written English language

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• BSc/MSc degree (or equivalent) in a related specialism, or relevant experience
• Experience as a trainer or assessor of in vivo skills under ASPA
• Experience as Named People, for example NACWO
• Familiarity with specific techniques such as imaging or surgery (PIL module C).

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As a Scientist, you will be responsible for carrying out daily animal husbandry tasks for rodent species, identifying and reporting any abnormal findings, and maintaining the highest standards of animal care and welfare. Key duties, include undertaking technical procedures such as animal identification, collecting biological samples, coordinating test articles, tumour measurements and condition reporting. You’ll generate clear and complete data sets, including the documentation of raw data in computerised data capturing systems and on handwritten records.
Able to work autonomously, managing your own work, you’ll meet agreed targets and quality standards in a timely manner, communicating progress appropriately. Passionate about self-development, you will maintain current knowledge in Laboratory animal sciences, e.g., through Continued Professional Development (CPD), collaboration with peer scientists or contact with other internal groups. Highly diligent, you’ll ensure that tasks are performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards, e.g., Good Laboratory Standards (GLS).