Postdoctoral Fellow – ncRNAs as drivers of iron dyshomeostasis
R-215201: Postdoctoral Fellow - ncRNAs as drivers of iron dyshomeostasis
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Competitive Salary, Bonus & Benefits Package
Are you an enthusiastic and passionate scientist looking for a postdoc position where you can channel your scientific creativity using your expertise in molecular cell biology? Join Early Respiratory & Immunology (R&I) at AstraZeneca, on a journey where we follow the science to turn ideas into life-changing medicines!
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit.
About our Postdoc Programme
Bring your expertise, apply your knowledge, follow the science, and make a difference. AstraZeneca’s Postdoc Programme is for self-motivated individuals looking to deliver exciting projects in an encouraging, engaging, and innovative environment. You'll work with multidisciplinary scientific teams from a diverse set of backgrounds and a world-class academic mentor specifically aligned to your project. Our postdocs are respected as specialists, encouraged to speak up, and supported to share their research at conferences, publish papers, achieve their goals.
Make a more meaningful impact in your career, with greater ownership and accountability to make a contribution whilst making a difference to the lives of our patients!
This is a 3-year programme, with an initial 2-year period and a 1-year merit-based extension.
About the Opportunity
The purpose of this position is to provide early-career researchers with an opportunity to further develop their expertise and skills in the field of molecular cell biology in an industry setting to impact future drug discovery. As a Postdoctoral Fellow you play a crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge and driving innovation in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
The successful Postdoctoral Fellow will join AZ’s Bioscience COPD & IPF Department within Early R&I, within BioPharma R&D, and be part of an exciting project to explore novel mechanisms for epigenetic regulation of intracellular iron homeostasis by exposome-induced non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) in lung epithelial cells.
As a team member, you will be part of a larger research unit comprising over 60 scientists involved in target identification and drug discovery for chronic respiratory diseases, including COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Thus, you will be embedded in a supportive and enabling environment of dedicated scientists on a mission to bridge the gap between bench science and bedside clinical practice.
Project Focus
We have found that iron metabolism is disrupted in the lungs of COPD patients, possibly offering new therapeutic avenues. Iron imbalance may drive COPD and be linked to cigarette smoke and air pollution exposure, and emerging evidence suggests that environmental factors might further disrupt cellular iron balance through epigenetic changes. This project aims to show that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) trigger harmful iron mobilization in lung cells, affecting their function and health.
Supported by Henric Olsson (Early Science & Portfolio Lead) and an internal team of experts, you'll also receive academic mentorship and guidance from Suzanne Cloonan (Professor in Respiratory Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) and Chiara De Santi (Lecturer at School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland). This collaborative framework provides you with a unique network of scientific and technical expertise highly relevant to the project.
What You’ll Do
You will play a pivotal role in applying existing methods and protocols to establish cell culture conditions that lead to intracellular iron accumulation in lung epithelial cells. These cells will be exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), serving as surrogates for cigarette smoke and air pollution, respectively. This approach aims to identify exposome-induced iron-regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) through various sequencing techniques, including microRNAseq, circRNAseq, and lncRNAseq.
The goal of the project is to validate and thoroughly characterize selected ncRNAs in human primary small airway epithelial cells and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived alveolar organoids. These disease-relevant models will help demonstrate that iron-regulatory ncRNAs mediate exposome-induced detrimental functional effects in human lung epithelial cells.
In this role you are expected to independently plan and implement your experiments as member of a small team already engaged in ground-breaking research on iron dyshomeostasis in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung diseases.
Essential Requirements
A PhD in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, or a related field
Strong experimental drive and ability to plan and perform experiments in primary cells or cell lines
Good understanding of and hands on experience with cell and molecular biology and associated methods and techniques, such as cell culture, qPCR, and Western Blot
Strong ability to analyse and present generated data
Strong ability to communicate results and findings to the wider research community (scientific papers, oral and poster presentations)
This project is for a self-motivated individual looking to deliver an exciting, high-impact project in a collaborative, engaging and innovative environment. Strong collaboration, communication and networking skills will be needed to make the most of the opportunity. The successful candidate should have an entrepreneurial attitude and a willingness to take initiatives and calculated risks, setting up ambitious goals to achieve results.
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
Background in respiratory research with a basic understanding of respiratory disease biology, including cell types, molecular pathways, and mechanisms
Experience with more complex culture models such as cell co-cultures, organoids and tissue explants
Previous experience with RNA sequencing techniques
Previous experience with data science/bioinformatics and the analysis of large and complex data sets
Reasons to Apply
This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a project that will advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning chronic respiratory diseases, with the potential to influence future therapeutic strategies. You will be embedded in a team of enthusiastic scientists with expert knowledge and research experience in areas including cell and molecular biology, RNA sequencing technologies, data science & bioinformatics. Supported by renowned external supervisors you will have an opportunity to further build expand your academic network. The project is expected to result in two first-author publications in high-impact journals, and in addition you will gather valuable industry experience and insight into the drug discovery and development process.
Why AstraZeneca
The unique positioning of this postdoc within a pharmaceutical company such as AZ, means that you will be able to access large datasets which are not available in the public domain. Moreover, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that methods and techniques you develop will not only be published but will also be used within AZ after the postdoc position concludes, in real-life projects - and that ultimately the work you do will directly impact patients’ lives!
On-Site Working
The position is located at our research site in Gothenburg, Sweden.
As a key member of a research group and taking a leading role on a Postdoctoral project, we expect regular attendance - a minimum of 3 days per week on the AstraZeneca campus. For laboratory-based scientists, this may be higher.
Given the unique positioning of our Postdoctoral researchers, you may have an additional opportunity to spend some time with an external academic mentor. In this instance, you may be required to spend some of your time working alongside them at their facility as driven by the research project.
Your flexibility to meet the needs of the research and the scope of the project is required and we also look to support you with flexibility in accordance with our standard work policies.
Next Steps
If your passion is science and you want to be part of a team that makes a bigger impact on patients’ lives, then there’s no better place to be.
This advert will be running from January 2, 2025 and, we welcome your application as soon as possible, but ahead of the scheduled closing date of January 31, 2025. In the event, that we identify suitable candidates ahead of the scheduled closing date, we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than published.
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AstraZeneca - Respiratory & Immunology
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.
