Postdoctoral Fellow 2025 - Integrated Bioanalysis, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow – PET/CT Imaging in CAR T Cell Therapy

Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Department: Integrated Bioanalysis, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS)

Are you a highly motivated researcher with advanced PET/CT imaging expertise, ready to contribute to cutting-edge science in the dynamic and emerging field of CAR T cell therapy? AstraZeneca is offering an exciting opportunity to join our team, where you will refine and deploy innovative in vivo cell tracking and metabolic PET/CT imaging techniques to deepen our understanding of CAR T cell biology and advance their therapeutic potential.

This role is embedded within Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS) and Oncology at AstraZeneca, offering a unique interdisciplinary environment. Your work will be conducted in collaboration with Prof. Ferdia Gallagher from the University of Cambridge, UK, providing a rich blend of industrial and academic mentorship. As part of this international and cross-functional team, you will be supported by a robust infrastructure and positioned to build a broad, collaborative network of leading scientists spanning industry and academia.

Key Responsibilities

• Innovative PET/CT Imaging: Develop and apply in vivo PET/CT imaging methods to track CAR T cells and assess metabolic profiles in tumor models.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work with experts in imaging, cell biology, and oncology to address critical challenges in CAR T cell therapy, including cell trafficking, safety/toxicity evaluation, and tumor metabolic profiling.
• Scientific Leadership: Drive experimental plans, identify key scientific questions, and pursue leads with the potential for high-impact discoveries.
• Mentorship and Networking: Collaborate with internal AstraZeneca teams and academic advisors to gain insights into both scientific innovation and drug development processes.
• Publication Opportunities: Leverage the advisory team's strong track record of high-impact publications to publish your research in leading journals.

Why Join Us?

Cutting-Edge Research

This role provides a unique opportunity to integrate PET/CT imaging into the field of CAR T cell therapy, an area at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy. You will contribute to groundbreaking research addressing critical challenges in CAR T cell trafficking, therapeutic efficacy, and safety.

Interdisciplinary Exposure

Working across AstraZeneca’s CPSS and Oncology groups, you will interact with experts from diverse fields and gain access to state-of-the-art imaging platforms and CAR T tumor models. Additionally, guidance from Prof. Ferdia Gallagher will enable the incorporation of metabolic PET/CT imaging to enhance the depth of your research.

Professional Growth

This role offers a rare opportunity to gain experience in both industry and academia. You will be supported by:

• Bjarki Johanneson, Director, Imaging Sciences at AstraZeneca
• Jyoti Roy, Associate Director, Imaging at AstraZeneca

The collaborative environment will allow you to develop expertise in research, drug development, and scientific leadership, equipping you for future success in academia or industry.

About AstraZeneca and CPSS

The Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS) group is part of the BioPharmaceutical R&D function, supporting all therapeutic areas across AstraZeneca throughout early- and late-stage clinical development. Within CPSS, the Integrated Bioanalysis (IBA) department plays a pivotal role in implementing bioanalytical strategies and driving innovation to support AstraZeneca’s diverse portfolio of therapeutic modalities.

This role is situated at the intersection of scientific innovation and drug development, offering exposure to AstraZeneca’s world-class facilities and cross-functional teams. This dynamic and collaborative environment combines the best of industry and academia, enabling you to make meaningful contributions to the development of life-changing medicines.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., molecular imaging, biomedical engineering, oncology, immunology). Thesis must already be defended prior to start date.
• Expertise in PET/CT imaging with a demonstrated track record of success (e.g., publications, presentations).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and experimental design skills.
• Maximum of 5 years postdoc experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with CAR T cell biology or immunotherapy.
• Familiarity with metabolic imaging techniques and tumor models.
• A proactive approach to driving experimental plans and scientific discovery.

Req Open Date: Jan 13, 2025

Req Close Date: Feb 8, 2025

Stages of interview:

Applicants are reviewed for fit/skills and invited to each step. You may not be invited to each step. (1) One-way video interview and (2) Virtual Interview Panel

To find out more go to:

astrazeneca.com and https://www.astrazeneca.com/r-d/next-generation-therapeutics/cell-therapies.html

We anticipate a high volume of applicants, so do not delay, applying today!

Compensation for this role depending on years of research is a minimum of US$96,000 up to Max of US$104,000 + short-term incentive. Some relocation supplements depend on distance and location at the employer's discretion.

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 authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.