AstraZeneca
Biopharmaceutical
PostdoctoralFellow-Biocatalysis&EnzymeDiscovery
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Mid+ candidates.
“Postdoctoral Fellow - Biocatalysis & Enzyme Discovery at AstraZeneca. Skills: biocatalysis, enzyme discovery, bioinformatics, metagenomic sequence data analysis, molecular biology, protein expression and purification, biochemical characterisation, enzymatic activity assays, analytical chemistry, LC-MS. Research and develop novel halogenase biocatalysts. Mine metagenomic sequence data using bioinformatics tools”
What You'll Achieve.
Impact drug discovery; Turn ideas into life-changing medicines; Make a meaningful impact with significant ownership and accountability; Make a difference to patients' lives; Deliver small molecule libraries and modified hit compounds; Achieve goals; Methods you develop will be published and used in real-life projects, directly impacting patients' lives
Industry & Context.
Apply knowledge to impact drug discovery; Solve real synthetic challenges
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, organic chemistry, or a related discipline, Demonstrated expertise in bioinformatics and computational analysis of metagenomic sequence data, Strong molecular biology skills, including gene cloning, protein expression, and purification, Hands-on experience with in vitro protein expression systems (bacterial, yeast, or cell-free), Proficiency in analytical chemistry techniques, particularly LC-MS, Experience designing and conducting enzyme activity assays, Within 5 years of obtaining their doctoral degree (PhD already awarded), or graduate students who will obtain their PhD within 6 months of joining AstraZeneca, A good publication record
Nice to Have
Biocatalysis and/or enzyme engineering experience, Experience with halogenase enzymes or other biocatalysts for organic synthesis, Familiarity with marine microbiology or extremophile biology, Knowledge of high-throughput screening and automation, Experience with structural biology techniques (crystallography, cryo-EM, or molecular modelling), Understanding of pharmaceutical chemistry and drug discovery processes, Excellent communication, planning, and organisational skills, Ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment
What You'll Do.
Research and develop novel halogenase biocatalysts
Mine metagenomic sequence data using bioinformatics tools
Identify promising halogenase candidates
and biochemically characterise enzymes
Evaluate enzymes for regioselective halogenation
Develop and optimise screening assays
Assess enzymatic activity and synthetic utility
Collaborate with computational biologists
and synthetic chemists
Publish high-quality scientific papers
Present research at international conferences
Participate in department activities
Learn about drug discovery processes
Gain exposure to new scientific advances
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Work with computational biologists, enzymologists, and synthetic chemists across the NextMarine consortium; Collaborate with leading partners across Europe; Work alongside medicinal chemists
Communication Scope
Excellent communication skills; Publish and present high-quality scientific papers at international conferences
Process & Methodology
Planning, Organisational skills
Full Job Description
**Location:** Gothenburg, Sweden | **Competitive Salary & Benefits Package** _Do you have expertise in, and passion for, biocatalysis, bioinformatics, and the discovery of novel enzymes from extreme marine environments? Would you like to apply your knowledge to impact drug discovery in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life-changing medicines? Then join Discovery Sciences at AstraZeneca and unlock the power of what Science can do. _ **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. We're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work, empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit. **About Being a Postdoc at AstraZeneca** Our Postdocs are respected as specialists, encouraged to speak up, and supported to share their research at conferences, publish papers, and achieve their goals. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact with significant ownership and accountability whilst making a difference to patients' lives. **This is a 3-year programme, with an initial 2-year period and a 1-year merit-based extension.** **The Opportunity** In this role, you'll research and develop novel halogenase biocatalysts discovered from extreme marine environments for sustainable pharmaceutical synthesis. Halogenases are increasingly valuable in drug discovery due to their ability to regioselectively introduce halogen atoms into organic molecules, modulating bioactivity, stability, lipophilicity, and membrane permeability of drug candidates. The project is supported by the **iLAB** in the Compound Synthesis and Management team at AstraZeneca, which uses automation, miniaturisation, and high-throughput experimentation to deliver small molecule libraries and modified hit compounds across all therapeutic areas. It forms part of the **EU Horizon
Applying for this Postdoctoral Fellow - Biocatalysis & Enzyme Discovery role?
Most applicants get filtered before a human reads their resume. See if yours makes the cut.
How to Apply on Workday
- Workday has a multi-step form — save your progress after every section.
- "Apply With LinkedIn" can fail or lose data; manual entry is more reliable.
- Watch for the "Submit for Review" final step — hitting "Save" alone does not submit.
- Job requisition numbers are useful when following up with HR by email.
ANONYMOUS · UNFILTERED
What do employees actually say about AstraZeneca?
Real rants from real employees. Read before you apply.