Job Description

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden | Competitive Salary & Benefits Package

Do you haveexpertisein, and passion for, biocatalysis, bioinformatics, and the discovery of novel enzymes from extreme marine environments? Would you like to apply your knowledge toimpactdrug discovery in a company that followsthe scienceand turns ideas into life-changing medicines? Then join Discovery Sciences at AstraZenecaand unlock the power of what Science can do

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centredbiopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, andcommercialisingprescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases.We'rededicated 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 anopportunityto make a meaningful impact withsignificantownership and accountability whilst making a difference to patients' lives.

This is a 3-yearprogramme, withan initial2-year period and a 1-year merit-based extension.

The Opportunity

In this role,you'llresearch and develop novelhalogenasebiocatalysts discovered from extreme marine environments for sustainable pharmaceutical synthesis.Halogenasesare increasingly valuable in drug discovery due to their ability toregioselectivelyintroduce 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 teamat 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 fundedNextMARINEconsortium, working with European industrial and academic partners to pioneer enzyme discovery in extreme marine environments and unlock the biocatalytic potential of marine biodiversity.

You will employcutting-edgebioinformatics to mine metagenomic sequence data,identifyingpromisinghalogenasecandidates. You will then express, purify, and biochemicallycharacterisethese enzymes, evaluating their potential for regioselective halogenation relevant to pharmaceutical synthesis.You'lldevelop andoptimisescreening assays using analytical chemistry techniques to assess enzymatic activity and synthetic utility.

Supervised by ProfMartinHayes (Biocatalysis Lead,iLAB) and DrGiuliaBergonzini (Head of Compound Synthesis, Discovery Sciences)at AstraZeneca, with academic mentorship from ProfIoannisPavlidis (Department of Chemistry, University of Crete).

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Bioinformatics mining: Discover novelhalogenasesfrom marine metagenomic databases using tools such ascdhit, mmseqs2,ClustalOmega, and MUSCLE

• Molecular biology: Design and implement strategies for heterologous expression ofhalogenasegenes; purify andcharacteriserecombinant enzymes

• Assay development: Develop andoptimiseenzymatic activity assays using LC-MS and other analytical methods

• Screening: Evaluatehalogenases(WT and variants) for catalytic activity, substrate specificity, and synthetic potential in pharmaceutical-relevant transformations

• Collaboration: Work with computational biologists, enzymologists, and synthetic chemists across theNextMARINEconsortium

• Dissemination: Plan, write, publish, and present high-quality scientific papers at international conferences

• Engagement: Participatein department activities, learn about drug discovery processes, and gain exposure to new scientific advances

Essential Requirements

• PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, organic chemistry, or a related discipline

• Demonstratedexpertisein 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)

• Proficiencyin analytical chemistry techniques, particularly LC-MS

• Experience designing and conducting enzyme activity assays

Candidates must be 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 is expected.

Desirable Requirements

• Biocatalysis and/or enzyme engineering experience

• Experience with halogenaseenzymes 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, andorganisationalskills

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment

Why AstraZeneca?

You'llbe part of the NextMARINEconsortium, collaborating with leading partners across Europe. This unique opportunity combines fundamental research with direct pharmaceutical applications.You'llhave access to world-class bioinformatics infrastructure, automated screening platforms, and advanced analytical instrumentation, alongside experts in biocatalysis, synthetic chemistry, computational biology, and drug discovery.

The unique positioning of this postdoc within AstraZeneca means access to large datasets not available in the public domain, and the opportunity to work alongside medicinal chemists who understand real synthetic challenges. Methods you develop will be published and used in real-lifeprojects,directlyimpactingpatients' lives.

On-Site Working: This position is based at our research site in Gothenburg, Sweden

Next Steps

This advert will run from May 13th,2026 and we welcome your application ahead of the closing date of May27th,2026 We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if suitable candidates areidentified

Find Out More: AstraZeneca| NextMARINE| Life at AstraZeneca

The NEXTMARINE project has received funding from the European Union's HORIZON-CL6-2024-CIRCBIO-01programmeunder grant agreement No. 101181415. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency.

Date Posted

13-maj-2026

Closing Date

27-maj-2026Our 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.