Director Virology Research

Join us at AstraZeneca where you'll have the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives every day. As Director in the Virology Research group within Early Vaccines & Immune Therapies R&D (Early V&I) in Gaithersburg, MD, you'll play a pivotal role in channeling our scientific capabilities to make a positive impact on patients’ lives. We are consistently pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

The Director will be a key member of a growing, dynamic team focused on developing next-generation vaccines and antibody therapeutics through the early drug discovery process through investigational new drug (IND) enabling activities. In this role you will lead a research team responsible for in vitro and in vivo experiments supporting the design, and evaluation of existing and novel vaccines and antibody therapeutics against viral pathogens. You will contribute to the development of novel ideas in the target identification, antigen design, vaccine vector, and vaccine technology spaces. You will work collaboratively across the organization to drive projects towards successful completion, develop technical summaries, protocols, and quantitative analyses, and be responsible for the day-to-day organization of different project-related components along with the publishing of discoveries in high quality, peer-reviewed journals and support of IND filing.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Ph.D. in Virology, Molecular Biology, or related scientific field with 10+ years of experience
• Advanced knowledge of the culture and characterization of multiple viruses including influenza, RSV, hMPV, PIV, HBV, CMV etc.
• Experience developing, implementing and validating viral culture and viral neutralization assays
• Extensive hands-on experience working with RNA and/or DNA viruses and implementing reverse genetics systems.
• Familiarity with in vivo models to evaluate viral pathogenesis.
• Demonstrated track record of research project leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience preparing written scientific reports (e.g., manuscripts) and oral presentations (e.g., slides, posters)
• Ability to multitask and prioritize numerous projects.
• Managerial experience of 5+ persons

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience with basic laboratory automation
• Experience with laboratory information management systems and electronic laboratory notebooks

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we spark bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace, and challenge perceptions. That’s why in Research we work all five days of the week from the office / lab. But that doesn't mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, we are change makers on the world stage at an exciting frontier of medicine. We are helping to transform healthcare and build pandemic preparedness to protect against future health crises and to bring lasting immunity to people around the globe. We are committed to our central role in addressing pandemic and endemic diseases and ensuring our products continue to reach and benefit millions of people around the world.

Join our dynamic Vaccines and Immune Therapies team! Here we thrive in a diverse environment where everyone is empowered to speak up and share ideas. We encourage and value alternative perspectives as a path to challenge the norm and push the boundaries of science.

Ready to make a meaningful and lasting difference? Apply now!

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