Senior Scientist Biomarker Lead

Job Title: Senior Scientist Biomarker Lead Introduction to role: Are you ready to turn cutting-edge biomarker science into decisive choices in the clinic? As Senior Scientist, Biomarker Lead based in Cambridge, you will design and deliver fit-for-purpose biomarker strategies and assays that illuminate disease mechanisms, confirm target engagement, and guide patient selection across respiratory and immunologic indications. You will join a hands-on discovery group working at the interface of laboratory science and early clinical development. Using human samples and state-of-the-art platforms, you will convert complex datasets into clear, evidence-based recommendations, partnering closely with clinicians, translational scientists, and external collaborators. Can you see your work enabling smarter trial designs and faster decisions for patients? From day one, you will own critical biomarker workstreams that influence program direction. Your scientific independence, rigor, and storytelling will help teams move quickly on the right questions and make bold, well-supported decisions that accelerate medicines to those who need them. Accountabilities: Assay Strategy and Development: Design, develop, optimize, troubleshoot, transfer, and qualify biomarker assays that demonstrate target engagement, assess pharmacodynamics, enable patient stratification, and support clinical studies. Biomarker Study Leadership: Independently plan, execute, analyze, and document rigorous biomarker studies using human biospecimens to deliver decision-enabling data aligned to translational and project objectives. Quality and Compliance Stewardship: Ensure all work adheres to GLS, SOPs, ethical and regulatory requirements; proactively identify and mitigate quality and operational risks. Human Biospecimen Operations: Oversee compliant receipt, processing, tracking, storage, and archiving of human biological samples to safeguard integrity and traceability. Data Interpretation and Decision Support: Critically interpret biomarker results, articulate implications and limitations, and deliver clear, evidence-based recommendations to project teams and senior stakeholders. Technology Scouting and Feasibility: Serve as a subject-matter expert in biomarker assays, evaluate emerging technologies, and lead feasibility studies that expand translational capability. Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner across discovery, translational, clinical, and operations functions to shape biomarker strategy, align priorities, resolve challenges, and deliver high-quality outcomes. External Collaboration Enablement: Provide scientific and operational support to academic and clinical collaborators to ensure seamless, compliant execution and data flow. Communication and Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to publications, presentations, reports, and internal forums to disseminate insights and elevate best practices. Progression of Impact: Deliver immediate assay and study outputs, then scale impact by informing program strategy, refining patient selection, and improving clinical decision-making. Essential Skills/Experience: PhD with postdoctoral or industry experience in immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or biomedical sciences; or MS with equivalent progressively responsible laboratory research experience. Extensive experience independently developing, optimising, troubleshooting, qualifying, and applying biomarker assays to deliver decision-enabling data. Advanced experience handling and performing experiments with human biological samples, including blood and tissue processing and demonstrated knowledge of sample integrity, biospecimen traceability, ethical standards, applicable regulations, and laboratory compliance requirements. Demonstrated scientific independence and advanced problem-solving ability in a laboratory research environment, supported by a proven ability to influence multidisciplinary teams and recommend clear experimental next steps. Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesise complex scientific and technical information, articulate data implications and limitations, deliver clear recommendations to diverse audiences, and contribute to high-quality reports, presentations, and publications. Desirable Skills/Experience: Hands-on expertise across multiple biomarker platforms, such as immunoassays, multiparameter flow cytometry, cell-based assays, transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, and NGS-based methods, with the ability to select fit-for-purpose technologies and interpret multidimensional datasets. Deep knowledge of respiratory, immunology, or inflammation biology, with the ability to translate disease mechanisms and scientific evidence into biomarker hypotheses, experimental strategies, and clinically relevant readouts. Comprehensive understanding of drug discovery and development from early research through clinical studies Demonstrated experience applying translational science concepts to drug development—including target engagement, pharmacodynamics, patient stratification, biomarker strategy, assay qualification, and clinical biomarker deployment Why AstraZeneca: Join a science-powered organization where evidence guides bold decisions and investment fuels ambition. Here, unexpected teams come together in the same room to unleash original thinking, learn openly from setbacks, and move fast on the work that matters most. You will operate at the cutting edge of discovery and early clinical development, using advanced technologies to answer complex patient needs and shape smarter trials. Your ideas will travel across a diverse, expanding pipeline with real potential to reach patients around the world. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we create the conditions for you to explore new territory, share your work widely, and grow your impact. Call to Action: Step into this role to shape the biomarkers that guide life-changing respiratory medicines and show us how your science will turn complex data into decisive patient impact. Date Posted 14-ago.-2026 Closing Date 27-ago.-2026 Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.