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Senior Scientist COPD/IPF

Company AstraZeneca
Job Location Gaithersburg, MD
Salary Range $120k+
Time Type Full Time
Seniority Senior Level
Posted April 28, 2026
Application Deadline May 13, 2026

What**you will**do:

This job is a lab-based research role, and you will have a significant opportunity to influence the direction of the work. The work will be predominantly with human in vitro systems, working with primary and disease tissue-derived cells. Ideally, you have strong expertise with primary cell culture (human lung stromal cells and macrophages) and in vitro techniques assays such as Westerns, ELISAs, PCR. Experience in IHC, Ventana is a plus.

You will focus your contributions to a team focused on characterizing novel biology pathways pertinent to chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to aid target validation and drug projects

Examples of accountability

You will focus your contributions to a team focused on characterizing novel biology pathways pertinent to chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to aid target validation and drug projects

In a team setting, you will contribute by applying molecular and cellular biology techniques, and to interpret and communicate results to team members

You will support new target identification and validation You will collaborate with scientists from a variety of functional teams in Gaithersburg and with our sites in Cambridge, UK, and Gothenburg, Sweden

Essentials for the role:

  • A Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in biology or related fields

  • Expert in IHC, Ventana and respiratory biology (COPD, IPF)

  • Highly organized and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team to contribute to research projects

  • Demonstrated ability to design and conduct laboratory projects/experiments, develop methods, generate and interpret scientific data; competent in trouble shooting and critiquing data

Additionally, the**optimalcandidate willpossess**:

  • Strong hands-on skills in basic biochemical and molecular techniques including cell culture, quantification of mRNA (qPCR) and protein expression; ELISA, as well as assay development

  • Expertise in primary human cell culture, especially Air-Liquid-interface epithelial cell cultures, primary lung fibroblasts, immune cells, macrophages

  • Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to critically analyze datasets

  • The ability to work as part of a team and collaborate with colleagues across a variety of discipline

Desirable for the role:

  • Experience in Ventana, MSD

  • Experience with PowerPoint, Excel, GraphPad Prism

  • Drug discovery experience is a plus

At AstraZeneca, we push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine and transform the lives of patients living with cancer. With one of the broadest and deepest Immunology pipelines in the industry, there are many opportunities to work with new and novel drugs. Our collaborative environment empowers us to take smart risks, challenge the norm, and learn from failures. We are united in our vision to eliminate cancer as a cause of death, making bold moves that truly improve patient outcomes.

Join us in our mission to make a meaningful difference for patients around the world!

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $116,284.00 – $174,426.00. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.