Senior Scientist, Translational Immunology – Cancer Vaccines

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist with strong scientific and broad technical expertise in immunology and oncology to join our Translational Immunology group within Early Vaccines and Immune Therapies in Gaithersburg, MD. The Translational Immunology group bridges the gap between pre-clinical vaccine development and human clinical trials to inform decisions about the development of next generation vaccines to combat infectious disease and cancer.
In this role, you will design, execute, and analyze mechanistic and translational studies to define the contribution of vaccine‑induced cellular immunity to protection and efficacy. You will apply these insights to optimize vaccine design and immunization strategies, advancing programs from preclinical proof‑of‑concept to early clinical evaluation. If you are driven to translate cutting‑edge immunology into therapies that improve patient and public health, this role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Immunology, or other related scientific discipline
• 3+ years post-doctoral and/or industry experience in related areas
• Strong foundation in immunology demonstrated by a track record of publications and applied research experience in infectious disease and tumor-immune interactions
• Deep understanding of tumor biology, immune oncological techniques, and experimental model systems
• Extensive hands-on experience with multi-color flow cytometry including panel design, staining fluency, compensation, and data analysis/interpretation
• Proficiency in functional cell-based assays to evaluate therapeutic mechanisms of action (e.g. cytotoxicity, T/NK cell activation, cytokine readouts)
• End-to-end proficiency with scRNA-seq, CITE-seq, and ATAC-seq—including panel/design and library preparation, QC, and analysis
• Proven ability to develop, validate and troubleshoot assays as well as conceptualize and evaluate novel therapeutics
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively in team settings, communicate results clearly, and partner across discovery, translational, and data science groups

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct in vitro assays to assess vaccine-specific cellular responses and translate findings into novel vaccine technologies for oncology and infectious disease.
• Develop, optimize, and execute innovative assays to identify and quantify cellular targets and efficacy readouts relevant to vaccine performance.
• Stay current with immunology, oncology, and vaccinology literature and emerging platforms; share insights across Early Vaccines and Immune Therapies.
• Evaluate new technologies and assay formats for human immune function, driving continuous improvement and innovation.
• Communicate results in team and departmental meetings and represent the group at scientific conferences.
• Maintain high-quality electronic records and ensure work complies with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) standards, and relevant internal/external regulations.

Benefits

• qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid leaves
• health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans
• short-term incentive bonus opportunity
• eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles)
• to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles)
• commission payment eligibility (sales roles)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree